(POL) Judge strikes down part of PATRIOT ACT

[SirFozzie]

Interesting.

My co-worker, the conspiracy theorist, said "Oh, it's obvious what's going on. The Repubs don't want to give Hilary this power, so now that they've squeezed everything they can out of it, they're gonna pull the rug out from under it."

I think he's nuts..

But it'll be interesting to see how fast it gets appealed, and if other parts of the Patriot Act get challenged. Oh yeah.. does someone want to set the over/under on how many times the words "judicial activism" gets shouted on Fox et all?

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.

[chesapeake]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Oh yeah.. does someone want to set the over/under on how many times the words "judicial activism" gets shouted on Fox et all?

And the fact the judge is a Clinton appointee.

[gstelmack]

The real question will be that if a Dem gets into office next year, will they yank the Act, or decry the Republican anti-privacy machine that put it in place while taking advantage of it?

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

The real question will be that if a Dem gets into office next year, will they yank the Act, or decry the Republican anti-privacy machine that put it in place while taking advantage of it?

I think the answer to that is self-obvious. No government willingly gives up power that's granted to it.

[Logan]

As someone who enforces pieces of the PATRIOT Act when it comes to anti-money laundering, let me just say that it does have some useful components.

All that taking away of constitutional rights...not so much. Carry on.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Originally Posted by chesapeake

And the fact the judge is a Clinton appointee.

Or the fact the ACLU filed the lawsuit.

[chesapeake]

Originally Posted by Logan

As someone who enforces pieces of the PATRIOT Act when it comes to anti-money laundering, let me just say that it does have some useful components.

All that taking away of constitutional rights...not so much. Carry on.

Agreed on both points.