Judge Strikes Down Parts Of Patriot Act
Says Law Allowing FBI To Silence Those Ordered To Turn Over Private Records Is UnconstitutionalA federal judge struck down parts of the revised USA Patriot Act as unconstitutional Thursday, saying courts must be allowed to supervise cases where the government orders 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 law had been challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union, which complained that the revised law allowed the FBI to demand records without the kind of court order required for other government searches.
Unfortunately, these days, such a victory is simply the first round as they begin to start appealing to get the case in some Conservative Federalist Society Judge’s courtroom. But, winning a round is better than the years we’ve been through. The Patriot Act is, by the way, mostly unconstitutional. Any eighth grade Civics’ student could read it and tell you that. No oversight, for no reason…
Democratic candidates should ask Americans if they want China to continue loaning Bush the money for the Iraq War.