Federal Judge Strikes Down Parts of PATRIOT Act
For the second time this month, a federal judge has ruled that parts of the PATRIOT Act are unconstitutional. This time, the ruling stated that parts of the Act amending the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) allow the issue of warrants without showing proof of probable cause. The judge ruled that this is in violation of the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure.
Earlier this month another federal judge struck down provisions of the PATRIOT Act that allowed the FBI to acquire phone and email data from private companies through the use of "national security letters", rather than through warrants.