Posted by The Crux |
Yesterday, a federal district court judge in Oregon ruled that parts of the Patriot Act are unconstitutional because it "permits the executive branch of government to conduct surveillance and
searches of American citizens without satisfying the probable cause
requirements of the Fourth Amendment...." (Washington Post).
If the government appeals, I think it'll go to the 9th Circuit Court, which is known for protecting individuals' rights. The current U.S. Supreme Court seems to delight in over-ruling the 9th Circuit.
The case involved the a citizen/lawyer named Brandon Mayfield, who was arrested in 2004 and jailed for two weeks after the FBI botched the fingerprint matching and wrongly linked Mayfield to a terrorist attack in Spain. According to WaPo:..
"The FBI used its expanded powers under the Patriot Act to secretly search Mayfield's house and law office, copy computer files and photos, tape his telephone conversations, and place surveillance bugs in his office using warrants issued by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.
"In a settlement announced in November 2006, the U.S. government agreed to pay $2 million to Mayfield and his family..., but the pact allowed Mayfield to proceed with a legal challenge to the constitutionality of the Patriot Act...."
Three weeks ago, a New York federal court ruled Patriot Act provisions unconstitutional.
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