Smith v. Obama, No. 14-35555 (9th Cir.)
On June 3, 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ordered supplemental briefs from the parties as to whether Congress’ enactment of the USA Freedom Act the previous day had mooted Ms. Smith’s requests for declaratory and injunctive relief Continue reading Proceedings before the Ninth Circuit in Smith v. Obama
Order Appointing an Amicus Curiae, BR 15-99 (FISC Sept. 17, 2015)
On September 17, FISC Judge Michael W. Mosman appointed Preston Burton as amicus curiae, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. Sec. 1803(i)(2)(B), to assist in deciding on the government’s request to retain bulk metadata for litigation purposes after November 28, 2015, Continue reading The appointment of amicus curiae in regard to the retention of bulk metadata
In response to the government’s request of June 2, 2015, FISC Judge Michael W. Mosman issued a Primary Order on June 29 reauthorizing the NSA’s bulk telephony metadata program until August 28, 2015. The order was accompanied by an Opinion rejecting statutory and constitutional challenges to continuing the program. Continue reading The FISC’s dismissal of statutory and constitutional arguments against the interim reauthorization of bulk collection
Memorandum Opinion, BR 15-77, 15-78 (FISC June 17, 2015)
This Opinion holds that the Sunset Clause of the Patriot Act, Section 102(b)(1), does not prevent the FISC from reauthorizing the NSA’s bulk telephony metadata program. Continue reading The (non-) effect of the Patriot Act’s sunset clause
ACLU v. Clapper, 14-42–cv, 2015 WL 6516757 (2d Cir. Oct. 29, 2015)
On October 29, 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit refused to issue a preliminary injunction against the collection and querying of the plaintiffs’ telephone records through November 29, 2015, Continue reading The Court of Appeals’ Second Opinion in ACLU v. Clapper
United States v. Moalin, et al., No. 13-50572 (9th Cir.)
In the wake of the D.C. Circuit’s stay of the injunction in Klayman v. Obama, this criminal case is very arguably the only vehicle for challenging the NSA’s bulk telephony metadata program. Continue reading Appellate Proceedings in United States v. Moalin