National Security Archive Update, October 31, 2008 Court Orders Government to Submit Warrantless Surveillance Legal Opinions for Judicial Review
Court refuses to accept blanket assertions of secrecy regarding DOJ surveillance opinions
For more information contact:
Meredith Fuchs – 202/994-7000
Washington, DC, October 31, 2008 – In an opinion issued today in a case brought by the National Security Archive, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Privacy Information Center, the United States District Court for the District of the Columbia ordered the Department of Justice to submit several legal opinions issued by the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel for in camera review. The court explained that the “[Department of Justice] has now had two opportunities to provide this court with sufficiently detailed affidavits to describe why the documents at issue are subject to the claimed exemptions, and why many documents must be withheld in full.” Finding the Justice Department explanations insufficient, the court is now ordering the records submitted for the court’s review.
Visit the Web site of the National Security Archive to read the opinion and for more information about today’s posting.
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THE NATIONAL SECURITY ARCHIVE is an independent non-governmental research institute and library located at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The Archive collects and publishes declassified documents acquired through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). A tax-exempt public charity, the Archive receives no U.S. government funding; its budget is supported by publication royalties and donations from foundations and individuals.