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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2002

A secretive federal appeals court on Monday overturned limits on the federal government's ability to investigate and prosecute suspected terrorists and spies.

Meeting for the first time, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review said the USA Patriot Act authorizes broad wiretap and surveillance powers. The three-judge court overturned a May 17 ruling of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Court, which at the time was headed by U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth.

It is unclear whether the ruling can be appealed, and by whom, to the Supreme Court. The Department of Justice was the only named party.

Get the Story:
Broad U.S. Wiretap Powers Upheld (The Washington Post 11/19)
Court Overturns Limits on Wiretaps to Combat Terror (The New York Times 11/19)
Username: indianz.com, Password: indianz.com

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:
Lamberth rebuked DOJ for false information (08/23)
Inside Lamberth's living room (5/3)
Anti-terrorism bill expands police powers (10/4)