AP: Judge Strikes Down Part of Patriot Act

[flpoljunkie]

Judge Strikes Down Part of Patriot Act
By LARRY NEUMEISTER

The Associated Press
Thursday, September 6, 2007; 10:54 AM

NEW YORK -- A federal judge struck down parts of the revised USA Patriot Act on Thursday, saying investigators must have a court's approval before they can order Internet providers to turn over records without telling customers.

U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero said the government orders must be subject to meaningful judicial review and that the recently rewritten Patriot Act "offends the fundamental constitutional principles of checks and balances and separation of powers."

The American Civil Liberties Union had challenged the law, complaining that it allowed the FBI to demand records without the kind of court order required for other government searches.

The ACLU said it was improper to issue so-called national security letters, or NSLs _ investigative tools used by the FBI to compel businesses to turn over customer information _ without a judge's order or grand jury subpoena.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/06/AR2007090600999.html

[robinlynne]

1. Yeah judge!

[TwilightGardener]

2. Good judge.

[Buttercup McToots]

3. Thank you...

Perhaps the virus has run it's course...

[Hydra]

4. YAAA!!!!

Go Judge!!!

Let's hope this doesn't end up in Congress like the fisa thing, though...

:hide:

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Good news! At least there's a couple of sane judges in the country. Go ACLU!!

[flpoljunkie]

6. More than a couple, actually, who are willing to stand up for the Constitution.

[dmr]

7. Finally we get some sanity

in this awful world the political leaders have given our nation. Thank you Judge Marrero for protecting our Constitution.

[Pacifist Patriot]

8. Those darned Clinton appointees with their respect for the Constitution. How dare they!

:sarcasm: