The 5 Cases That Could Pit the Supreme Court Against the NSA

An anonymous reader writes: We've all been wondering how the U.S. Judicial branch will deal with the NSA's bulk metadata surveillance. Getting a case to the Supreme Court isn't a quick process, so we haven't seen much movement yet. But later this year, several cases have the potential to force a Supreme Court ruling on the NSA, whether they like it or not. Ars summarizes the five likeliest cases, and provides estimates on their timelines. For example, Klayman v. Obama was one of the first lawsuits filed after the Snowden leaks were published. The first judge to hear it actually ordered the government to halt the metadata program and destroy all data, but stayed his own order pending appeal. The case is now awaiting a decision from the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals, and several other high-profile lawsuits are awaiting its outcome. The decision in Klayman will have a domino effect on NSA-related court battles across the country.

Comments

A wish from an American

[Taco Cowboy]

As an American of course I wish that the SCOTUS would honor the very spirit that makes the USA special - in which, the government should never have given any power to intrude on the citizens' rights

But then, as a person who knows what the United States of America has turned into ... I ain't gonna be holding my breath

Them SCOTUS people are as corrupt as the rest --- and to think the NSA (and those powerful god-like beings who holds control over spook agencies such as NSA) don't already have influences over the SCOTUS judges is to deny the reality

Re:A wish from an American

[MightyMartian]

"Well, Mr. Justice, it appears from the following web searches you made over the last eight months that you like chicks with dicks. Now you can either rule for the the Government, or the Wall Street Journal gets a hot new exclusive..."

Re:A wish from an American

[stephanruby]

"Well, Mr. Justice, it appears from the following web searches you made over the last eight months that you like chicks with dicks. Now you can either rule for the the Government, or the Wall Street Journal gets a hot new exclusive..."

That's way too tame. This is the way I'd envision the conversation.

"Well, Mr. Justice, we have the videotapes of your sexual harassment campaign against your subordinates, we have the books that prove all the fraud you and your wife committed in real estate, and we have the remote kill-switch to your pacemaker. Why do you think you got the job? You would obviously never had gotten the job if we had no leverage against you.

Please just wait ten years before you shut down the worst of our programs. In ten years time, we'll be using new technology, new loopholes, and new programs, that even Snowden doesn't know about. "

Re: A wish from an American

[epyT-R]

1. yes they are supposed to spy outside the nation's borders, not on citizens. By doing so, we do what the terrorists want to do: destroy our liberties. Who was snowden supposed to tell? The only leverage over the washington crowd is public shame. Snowden was a response to their deplorable behavior. They created snowden.

2. If al quada is a threat, congress should declare war on the nations supporting it, and we hurl cruise missiles at them until they stop attacking us. If they are not threats, then we shouldn't be there. We don't win freedom by compromising citizens rights at home.

Klayman

[overshoot]

I'd feel a lot better about this case if the plaintiff (Klayman) weren't proceeding pro se and actually had a lawyer who knew how to argue a case instead of using his pleadings as a political soap box.

Re:Klayman

[wiredlogic]

I'd feel a lot better about this case if the plaintiff (Klayman) weren't proceeding pro se and actually had a lawyer who knew how to argue a case instead of using his pleadings as a political soap box.

The American justice system has been co-opted by lawyers who've constructed a labyrinthine system of rules meant to enrich themselves by wresting control from the common man and forcing the use of their services. It shouldn't be necessary to avail oneself of legal aid to pursue civil torts. His choice to do this himself is in itself a protest of the horrible state of affairs in American courtrooms.

President Jackson

[Anonymous Coward]

"Let them enforce it."