Reversal of fortune
Judge Anna Diggs Taylor of the US District Court in Detroit ruled President Bush's use of the NSA for domestic wiretapping illegal last week. Judge Taylor used some novel legal arguments to extend the protection of the First and Fourth Amendment to this situation, roundly chastising King Bush in the process.
Hold on to your hats, though. Legal scholars seem almost universal in their lack of enthusiasm for the legal reasoning showed by Judge Taylor. The Bush administration is appealing the decision, of course, and ultimately there will be a showdown.
The consensus among the legalerati is that the decision is likely to be upheld (ie; NSA domestic wiretapping is illegal), but Judge Taylor's reasoning will be attacked.
Still, it's nice to see the slowly grinding wheels of the legal system take off someone else's finger for a change.
Posted on August 18, 2006
