Category «Civil Liberties»

Release of Additional Records Pertaining to Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr.

Following up with a link to resources referenced in my posting yesterday, Additional Gov Docs. Released From Alito’s DOJ Tenure, see today’s press release: “The National Archives at College Park will release 31 documents totaling 336 pages from Record Group 60, Records of the Department of Justice, Files of Charles Cooper and Files of the …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Courts, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research, Privacy

Advocacy Groups Petition FCC For Stay On Web Wiretapping Compliance

Press release: “The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the Center for Democracy and Technology, and representatives of industry, academia, librarians and others today filed a joint request for a stay with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), arguing that the Commission has been “unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious” in demanding that broadband Internet access providers and interconnected Voice …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, E-Government, Government Documents, Privacy

Talk of Filibuster Resurfaces in Response to Alito’s Views on Reapportionment

Biden: Chance of Alito Filibuster Higher Related resources on Alito Baker v. Carr, 369 U.S. 186 (1962 Union for Reform Judaism, Resolution Opposing the Nomination of Judge Samuel Alito Jr: “Based on Judge Alito’s extensive public record before us as outlined in the background of this Resolution, the Commission on Social Action is recommending that …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Courts, Legal Research

Opposition to Patriot Act Reauthorization Stalls Vote

Yesterday: Patriot Act Reauthorization Encounters Strong Opposition; today news on a deadlock which will delay a vote until December. Preventing passage of any meaningful reforms to this legislation may indeed prove to be a bigger obstacle than anticipated. The work of organizations including the American Library Association, EFF, EPIC, CDT and the ACLU is in …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Legislation, Privacy

Patriot Act Reauthorization Encounters Strong Opposition

Following up on reports of civil liberties protections having been stripped from the draft Patriot Act reauthorization and information that the bill contains “poison pill measures,” news today that a bipartisan group of Senators (including Feingold and Sununu) is attempting to block passage of bill by the full Senate. Their statement is here.

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Libraries, Patriot Act, Privacy

ALA Urges Vote Against Patriot Act Conference Report

From American Library Association Washington Office Newsline: “The House is scheduled to vote on the PATRIOT Act conference report as early as Thursday, November 17. The revised bill does not contain important civil liberties safeguards sought by ALA and other advocates…The revised bill sunsets at seven years (The Senate bill sunset was 4 years and …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Legislation, Libraries, Patriot Act, Privacy

Groups Seek Gov Docs on Impact of Patriot Act on Academic Freedom

Press release: “The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) has joined with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and PEN American Center in a legal action against the U.S. Departments of State, Justice, and Homeland Security and the Central Intelligence Agency. In a complaint filed [November 10, 2005 – 19 pages, PDF], the national groups …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Freedom of Information, Patriot Act

Conference on Patriot Act Reauthorization Urged to Adopt Four Year Sunset

From the American Bar Association President, this November 9, 2005 letter (3 pages, PDF) requests that conferees seeking to reach agreement on the House (H.R. 3199) and Senate versions (S. 1389) accept language reforming sections 206, 213 and 215. These sections address limitations to the use of wiretaps, search warrants for homes and businesses, and …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Legal Research, Legislation, Libraries, Patriot Act, Privacy

Gov’t Pays Aggregator for Access to Extensive Database of Personal Info

As reported today by Govexec.com: “According to federal documents obtained by National Journal and Government Executive, among the services that ChoicePoint provides to the government [FBI and DoD] is access to a previously undisclosed, and vaguely described, “exclusive” data-searching system. This system in effect gives law enforcement and intelligence agents the ability to use the …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, E-Government, Privacy

Patriot Act National Security Letter Provisions Spotlighted in Recent News

Related news on the Names of Library Organization Members Gagged by FBI: PBS News Hour, A reporter discusses concerns surrounding the Patriot Act and access to private phone, e-mail, library and financial records. From American Library Association Washington Office Newsline: “Sunday’s article revealed that, since the PATRIOT Act changes, the FBI has been issuing “more …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Internet, Legislation, Libraries, Patriot Act, Privacy