Judges consolidate (17 different) Bush spy program lawsuits in San Francisco

AP on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 8/10/06 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

A federal panel of judges has consolidated 17 lawsuits throughout the United States filed against telecoms accused of assisting the Bush administration monitor Americans' communications without warrants.

The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation transferred the cases to U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, who last month declined to dismiss a spying case against the federal government and AT&T Inc., according to an order released Thursday. The consolidated lawsuits also target Verizon Communications Inc., Bellsouth Corp. and their affiliates. The panel ruled 26 other lawsuits with similar allegations also may be moved to Walker, who took the bench in 1990 after being nominated by the first President Bush.

Last month, Walker rejected government assertions that the AT&T case had to be dropped because it could expose state secrets and jeopardize the war on terror.

Walker ruled July 20 the warrantless eavesdropping has been so widely reported there's no danger of spilling secrets. No hearing has been set and the Justice Department has asked Walker to halt the case pending appeal.

The lawsuits challenge President Bush's assertion that he can use his wartime powers to eavesdrop on Americans without a warrant. The lawsuits accuse the telecoms of illegally making communications on their networks available to the National Security Agency without warrants.

A five-judge panel of federal judges consolidated the cases because they dealt with similar allegations and chose Walker because the AT&T case was the most advanced.

The case is In Re National Security Agency Telecommunications Records Litigation, 1791.

[NormsRevenge]

Judge Walker is a 1989 George H.W. Bush appointee.
http://air.fjc.gov/servlet/tGetInfo?jid=2483

[Ingtar]

And it is set to take place in the 11th Circus Court of Repeals area.

[Edgerunner]

The lawsuits challenge President Bush's assertion that he can use his wartime powers to eavesdrop on Americans without a warrant.

UNTRUE, the usual for AP...

[JSteff]

These suits should be thrown out now.

[Voltage]

Quick resolution: Send the plaintifs to Somolia where they can use their negotiating skills in discussion with the Talliban.

And don't let them come back here!

[Darkwolf377]

Hey, San Francisco, I certainly hope you start advertising in the Middle East that you are an "Anti-Terrorism-Free Zone".

[dighton]

Circus indeed, but it's the Ninth.

[Pyro7480]

Columna quinta delenda est! (The Fifth Column must be destroyed!)

[Edgerunner]

The lawsuits challenge President Bush's assertion that he can use his wartime powers to eavesdrop on Americans without a warrant.

I mean he never asserted the statement that is in bold font...sorry.

[Signalman]

"These suits should be thrown out now."

Agreed. Just the right place for a bunch of left-wing attorneys, the city dump.

[rightinthemiddle]

Amazing, isn't it? We're the AP, if we say it, it becomes the truth.

[Logical me]

These suits should be thrown out now.

They won't. It used to be that a fishing expedition was not accepted as evidence of wrongdoing. Now it is the norm. These law suits have no solid evidence that they were spied on, and if these fishing expeditions are allowed everything will be investigated without evidence. What a hell of a Country that would allow this kind of justice. We are turning into the biggest BS Country in the world. And don't give me BS that they have evidence. The Courts will allow anything.

[Prodn2000]

Perhaps. What is the legal recourse? Probably nothing. If the courts find that the administration has violated the constitution or has entered murky waters, then it will be duly noted.

No "War Power" I know can override the 4th amendment.

[sgtbono2002]

This means all of these cases will be decided in the Ninth Circuit?? God help us.

[flynmudd]

How are we supposed to protect ourselves if we are not allowed to do anything? This reeks of the "WALL". This is so much BS. We need a lawyer cattle call and tell them a free cruise is being provided to all comers. Take the ship to the Bermuda Triangle and make it mysteriously disappear! I have this thing against most lawyers, the only good ones are six feet under.

[bpjam]

The downside is that he consolidated them all in San Francisco under the less than protective eye of the 9th Circus Court of Appeals. You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a liberal judge up there. Even the 'republicans' are not to be trusted without verifiable proof.

[JSteff]

"The Courts will allow anything."

I know. That is why I said they need to be thrown out now. What #ucks is that they even get any traction in the public.

I don't know how many people even know the base facts about the "spying". The average person has to be very vain to think the government wants to, or has the time to listen in on their calls.

I usually just ask if they have been calling the middle east and speaking to Al Qieda or if there is a reason their number might have been in the cell phone book on a cell phone captured from a terrorist.

I love the look on their face when I explain how the government got the numbers they are tracking and ask them again if there is a way their number might be on the cell phone of a terrorist. What idiots.

[Logical me]

Right on. I understand that the use of keywords on the computer covered many frequencies, which probably includes all cell phones overseas to and from us. Sort of like the way google works. Must be one he!! of a computer, says me. But it does explain that it would have been impossible to consult the court before intercept. The specificity needed for court order before intercept is impossible and the court was consulted after the fact. This whole thing is RAT BS.