Posted on 12/20/2005 8:28:57 PM PST by hipaatwo
Jurist Concerned Bush Order Tainted Work of Secret Panel
By Carol D. Leonnig and Dafna Linzer Washington Post Staff Writers Wednesday, December 21, 2005; Page A01
A federal judge has resigned from the court that oversees government surveillance in intelligence cases in protest of President Bush's secret authorization of a domestic spying program, according to two sources.
U.S. District Judge James Robertson, one of 11 members of the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, sent a letter to Chief Justice John D. Roberts Jr. late Monday notifying him of his resignation without providing an explanation.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I'd like to know how it is a setback for the President.
I don't know about you guys, but I already feel safer with this guy off the FISA bench.
Judge Robertson was appointed United States District Judge in December 1994. He graduated from Princeton University in 1959 and received an LL.B. from George Washington University Law School in 1965 after serving in the U.S. Navy.
This is the same biased clintonoid judge who proclaimed that the trials of captured terrorists at Guantanamo were illegal.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34519-2004Nov8.html
One of these two leftist reporters at the Washington ComPost wrote up that earlier article.
Is Robertson "the judge" referred to in this article just out that has leaking to the NYT?
"The judge who oversees the secret court that authorizes intelligence warrants - and which has been largely bypassed by the program - also raised concerns about aspects of the program.
http://nytimes.com/2005/12/21/politics/21nsa.html?ei=5094&en=c385132b746e1109&hp=&ex=1135141200&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print
my guess at this early stage - he's the Dems "Joe Wilson" of this so-called incident. he will be portrayed as an "honest judge" victimized by a "rogue operation" from the white house.
Maybe he's one of the leakers.
"U.S. District Judge James Robertson, one of 11 members of the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, sent a letter to Chief Justice John D. Roberts Jr. late Monday notifying him of his resignation without providing an explanation." If it truly is in protest, it slams home the reason for going around such democrap party shills who would put their degenerate party empowerment above national security.
That was my question... until I realized that it was probably unnamed sources in this fishwrap's editorial office.
Hmm, if Robertson resigned from the FISA court in a protest against GWB's actions, can we assume he will be true to his higher morals and also resign from the U.S. District court in a protest against Bubba's actions? I didn't think so.
bingo
Sounds like a good thing, someone that irrational shouldn't be on such an important court.
This program has been going on for 4 years, yet he only resigns when it's gotten public attention through leaks?
I wonder if he's one of the sources of the leaks? If so, toss his butt in jail.
This program didn't happen without oversight, and those who had the oversight responsiblility had legal recourse to fight the program.
While I commend the efforts of jurists to make sure the laws are being followed and our rights are being protected, it sounds like this particular jurist is playing political games because he hasn't gotten his way through legal means.
Thought the identities of these FISA Judges was classified? Do they become declassified upon resignation?
No FISA Judges were appointed by Clinton. Every Judge on FISA was named to the Court by Rehnquist.
yes, but they got onto the bench via presidential appointment. that tells us what their politics are.
"Robertson is considered a liberal judge who has often ruled against the Bush administration's assertions of broad powers in the terrorism fight, most notably in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld . Robertson held in that case that the Pentagon's military commissions for prosecuting terrorist suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, were illegal and stacked against the detainees."
Good riddance.
This is a Clinton appointee that tossed out solid indictments against Web Hubbell. He was overturned on appeal after appeal. Very partisan judge - further evidenced by this behavior. Very unjudicial for someone to throw a temper tantrum like this.
He was indeed appointed to the bench by President Clinton. He may have been assigned to be one of the judges sitting on the FISA panel by Rehnquist but Rehnquist would have no authority to have to put him on bench. Judges are appointed by the President and seated upon confirmation by the Senate, per the U.S. Constitution.
'Nuff said. Good riddens.
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