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TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2003

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a civil liberties challenge to the federal government's expanded surveillance powers.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth in May 2002 wrote an opinion for the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Court that rejected new powers authorized bye the the USA Patriot Act, passed in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks. But Lamberth was overruled by the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review, which met for the first time to consider the case on behalf of the Bush administration.

The Department of Justice was officially the only party in the case. A coalition of civil liberties and civil rights groups asked the Supreme Court for permission to appeal but were denied without comment yesterday.

Get the Story:
High Court Won't Rule on Terror Surveillance (The Washington Post 3/25)
High court rejects challenge to spy laws (The Washington Times 3/25)
Supreme Court Roundup: Groups Lose Challenge to Government's Broader Use of Wiretaps (The New York Times 3/24)
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Get the Rulings:
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review (11/18) | In Re All Matters Submitted to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (5/17)

Relevant Links:
U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth - http://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/lamberth-bio.html
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, FAQ - http://www.eff.org/Censorship/Terrorism_militias/fisa_faq.html

Related Stories:
Limits on wiretap powers overturned (11/19)
Lamberth rebuked DOJ for false information (08/23)
Inside Lamberth's living room (5/3)
Anti-terrorism bill expands police powers (10/4)