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Federal Court Strikes Down National Security Letter Provision of Patriot Act

ACLU press release: “A federal court today struck down the amended Patriot Act’s National Security Letter (NSL) provision. The law has permitted the FBI to issue NSLs demanding private information about people within the United States without court approval, and to gag those who receive NSLs from discussing them. The court found that the gag power was unconstitutional and that because the statute prevented courts from engaging in meaningful judicial review of gags, it violated the First Amendment and the principle of separation of powers.”

  • Doe v. Gonzales – Opinion Decision and Order (9/6/2007)
  • Related postings on National Security Letters
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