Surrendering our civil liberties one court ruling at a time.
The National Security Agency notched a much-needed win in court, after a series of setbacks over the legality and even the usefulness of its massive data collection program.
A federal judge in New York ruled Friday that the National Security Agency’s bulk collection of data on nearly every phone call made in the United States is legal.
The ruling contrasts with another ruling last week by a federal judge in Washington, who called the same program “almost Orwellian” and likely unconstitutional.
In his ruling Friday, U.S. District Judge William Pauley said that while the NSA’s program under Section 215 of the Patriot Act has become the center of controversy since it was revealed by leaks by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, it is legal.
This is an absolutely chilling decision, given that the kind of mass surveillance at the root of this happened without warrants under the auspices of the Patriot Act.
It’s just too bad we don’t have a Democratic president/Constitutional scholar to stand up and put an end to this kind of abuse of our Constitution.
Zach, pitch-perfect, thanks.
FOURTH AMENDMENT:
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
The problem with the fourth amendment like all other amendments are for the people not the government to live by. If the government cared about the constitution would 97% of our prisoners and conviction`s have been extorted/plea bargained ? This has ended liberty and justice for all. Today all you do is shop for a judge to get the ruling you want. They have procures from election time. They explain if they are on the correct side of the law or the right(wing) side of the law.