US judge tells government to disclose knowledge of domestic spying

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/theworld/2006/May/theworld_May1115.xml§ion=theworld&col=

NEW YORK - Department of Justice employees involved in a lawsuit filed on behalf of terrorism detainees must disclose whether they know of any government monitoring of conversations between the detainees and their attorneys, a judge ruled.

US Magistrate Judge Steven Gold issued the Tuesday ruling in response to a motion filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights, a human rights group representing the detainees, after the Bush administration’s domestic warrantless surveillance program was disclosed.

The class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of hundreds of Arab and Muslim men who were detained in the United States in the government’s investigation into the 2001 terror attacks. Many of the men were deported.

The center had asked the judge to order the government to disclose “whether any telephone, e-mail or other communication between any plaintiff and his counsel was monitored or intercepted since the plaintiff’s removal from the United States.”

The government said the disclosure could reveal classified information.

On Tuesday, the judge rejected that argument and ordered the Department of Justice to comply within three weeks.

[mike_c]

1. watch the justice dept pull out the state secrets defense now....

Betcha.

[Swamp Rat]

3. ... and the electrodes

[mike_c]

4. you know, Swamp Rat, you have a very expressive way with...

...green. :toast:

[Swamp Rat]

7. thanks... though I do use other colors from time to time

:D

[Supersedeas]

8. and charges of recklessness by the Article 3 Courts

[Hubert Flottz]

2. That's great!

any information on the judge?

[TechBear_Seattle]

5. "National security"

"Judge Gold, why do you hate America? Is there political motivation behind your machinations to humiliate the President and make this country less safe against terrorists?

"And no, we have no intention of complying with your treasonous order. What are you going to do about? WE are the ones who enforce the law."

[gratuitous]

6. Wow, a judge who doesn't genuflect at the altar of "national security"

Well, Steven Gold is just a magistrate judge; he should give up any hope of becoming a full-fledged district court judge, at least while Stupidhead's in office.

The way the Bush administration waves "national security" around like it's some kind of "Get Out Of Jail Free" card is just appalling. What's even more appalling are the number of judges and even Department of Justice attorneys who fall down prostrate when it's invoked as cover for illegal and unconstitutional activities.