Judge rules parts of PATRIOT ACT unconstitutional

[Quantum Windbag]

About fucking time.

Two provisions of the USA Patriot Act are unconstitutional because they allow search warrants to be issued without a showing of probable cause, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken ruled that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, as amended by the Patriot Act, "now permits the executive branch of government to conduct surveillance and searches of American citizens without satisfying the probable cause requirements of the Fourth Amendment."
Portland attorney Brandon Mayfield sought the ruling in a lawsuit against the federal government after he was mistakenly linked by the FBI to the Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people in 2004.
The federal government apologized and settled part of the lawsuit for $2 million after admitting a fingerprint was misread. But as part of the settlement, Mayfield retained the right to challenge parts of the Patriot Act, which greatly expanded the authority of law enforcers to investigate suspected acts of terroris

Part of Patriot Act ruled unconstitutional - US news - Security - msnbc.com

 

[syrenn]

I agree.. about fucking time.

 

[Liability]

I suspect that this determination will get reversed on appeal.

As it should.

 

[Paulie]

I suspect that this determination will get reversed on appeal.

As it should.

You don't deserve liberty.

 

[JWBooth]

 

[Mad Scientist]

U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken better watch her ass, the President is now assassinating Americans with Predator Drones. Only a matter of time before it starts happening on US soil.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

Elden Rosenthal, an attorney for Mayfield, issued a statement on his behalf praising the judge, saying she "has upheld both the tradition of judicial independence, and our nation's most cherished principle of the right to be secure in one's own home."

Indeed.

A step in the right direction, let’s hope that tradition of judicial independence carries on through the appeals process.