FISA Court Orders Declassification Review Of Patriot Act Interpretations

[catbarf]

This is a few days old so I checked to see if it's already been posted, I didn't see anything so please let me know if this is late.

[url]http://www.mainjustice.com/2013/09/13/fisa-court-sides-with-aclu-tells-government-to-begin-declassification-review-of-select-rulings/[/url]
[url]http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/13/edward-snowden-nsa-disclosures-judge[/url]
[url]http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2013/09/fisa-court-orders-declassification-review-of-select-rulings.html[/url]

[quote]The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court today ruled that the Justice Department must begin reviewing for release secret opinions about the collection of Americans’ telephone records under Section 215 of the Patriot Act.

U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV gave the government until Oct. 4 to review past FISC opinions on Section 215 and set a timetable for declassification review.[/quote]

Essentially one of the judges on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, the court that has been in the news relevant to the NSA's actions, has issued a legal order following a FOIA request by the ACLU. This order requires that the findings of the court relevant to the Patriot Act be reviewed for declassification and release. Essentially it will reveal exactly where the court stands in relation to the law and what interpretation and scope they deem acceptable and legal, which will reveal how they have defined the NSA's powers and legal responsibility. It's only a small step towards transparency and oversight, but it's an important step nonetheless.

[Disgruntled]

I think that judge has made a lot of powerful enemies by this point. Hope nothing happens to him.

[Zenreon]

"I am the Law"

-Sincerely, FISA

[catbarf]

[QUOTE=Disgruntled;42230151]I think that judge has made a lot of powerful enemies by this point.[/QUOTE]

I think that's a little excessive considering nobody outside the NSA seems to have a vested interest in protecting them, and this court has legal authority over the NSA, giving a pretty good reason for the NSA not to try messing with the justices.