Thursday, September 06, 2007

Judge Strikes Down Part of Patriot Act

NEW YORK (AP) - A federal judge struck down parts of the revised USA Patriot Act on Thursday, saying investigators must have a court's approval before they can order Internet providers to turn over records without telling customers.

U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero said the government orders must be subject to meaningful judicial review and that the recently rewritten Patriot Act ``offends the fundamental constitutional principles of checks and balances and separation of powers.''

The American Civil Liberties Union had challenged the law, complaining that it allowed the FBI to demand records without the kind of court order required for other government searches.

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