Federal Judge Weakens Patriot Act

Portions of the Patriot Act were struck down as unconstitutional today. U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero ordered the FBI to cease issuing the "national security letters" [NSL's] used to secretly demand customer information from internet providers, banks, and phone companies - demands made without a court order or subpoena.

In his 106-page ruling, Marrero says the letters violate both the First Amendment and the Constitution's separations of powers provision, as there is inadequate judicial supervision of the issuing of NSLs. Marrero said those letters represent "the legislative equivalent of breaking and entering, with an ominous free pass to the hijacking of constitutional values."

Today's ruling comes courtesy of the hard-working good people at the ACLU, who filed a suit on behalf of a "John Doe", an internet service provider who is prohibited by law from revealing having received an NSL.