Federal Judge Overturns USA PATRIOT Act NSL Provisions
Information Today, September 9, 2007
U. of Pittsburgh Legal Studies Research Paper Series No. 1489108
3 Pages Posted: 15 Oct 2009
Date Written: 2007
Abstract
Late last week a federal court declared portions of the USA PATRIOT Act dealing with National Security Letters (NSLs) to be unconstitutional. The court found that the NSL secrecy requirements violated the First Amendment rights of NSL recipients. In addition, the court found that the PATRIOT Act did not provide an adequate opportunity for judicial review of NSLs.
While NSLs have been around since the 1970's, the USA PATRIOT Act dramatically broadened the scope of their use. In a 107 page opinion, federal judge Victor Marrero determined that neither the original PATRIOT Act, nor the 2006 revisions adequately protected the constitutional rights of NSL recipients.
Keywords: USA PATRIOT Act, PATRIOT Act, National Security Letters, NSLs, secrecy provision, First Amendment, free speech, civil liberties, intelligence gathering, unwarranted searches, constitutional rights, Federal Court
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