Shocking, I know. This is very far from over, but here is some very good news.
DETROIT — A federal judge ruled Thursday that the government’s warrantless wiretapping program is unconstitutional and ordered an immediate halt to it.
U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor in Detroit became the first judge to strike down the National Security Agency’s program, which she says violates the rights to free speech and privacy as well as the separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution.
“Plaintiffs have prevailed, and the public interest is clear, in this matter. It is the upholding of our Constitution,” Taylor wrote in her 43-page opinion.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit on behalf of journalists, scholars and lawyers who say the program has made it difficult for them to do their jobs. They believe many of their overseas contacts are likely targets of the program, which involves secretly listening to conversations between people in the U.S. and people in other countries.
You can read the injunction here. News so good, that it may even be panda worthy.
Even Su Lin is happy about it. As a side note, if you aren’t already a member, think about joining the ACLU. It’s a great organization and being a card carrying member is fun way to piss off wingnuts everywhere.
By the way, does anybody want to place a bet on how long it will take for 10 pundits to declare that this ruling is really a win for the Bush administration because it will help the Republicans in November? Hours? Minutes? Surely not days. Perhaps it has already happened?
