Court Challenges Internet Wiretap Rules

[TomInTib]

A U.S. appeals panel challenged the Bush administration Friday over new rules making it easier for police and the FBI to wiretap Internet phone calls. One judge told the government its courtroom arguments were "gobbledygook" and invited its lawyer to return to his office and "have a big chuckle."

The skepticism expressed so openly toward the government's case during a hearing in U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Columbia emboldened a broad group of civil liberties and education groups who argued that the U.S. improperly applied telephone-era rules to a new generation of Internet services.

"Your argument makes no sense," U.S. Circuit Judge Harry T. Edwards told the lawyer for the Federal Communications Commission, Jacob Lewis. "When you go back to the office, have a big chuckle. I'm not missing this. This is ridiculous. Counsel!"

At another point in the hearing, Edwards told the FCC's lawyer his arguments were "gobbledygook" and "nonsense."
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edited because I just had to include the last sentence:
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The third judge on the panel, Janice Rogers Brown, did not comment or ask any questions during the arguments.

more:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060505/ap_on_go_ot/internet_calls_wiretaps&printer=1;_ylt=AvpFCLlAt2p7NM2khH_RhX92wPIE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-

[jrw14125]

1. she probably hadn't gotten orers from shrubo yet!