US Judge Boots Warrantless Wiretap Cases Vs. Telecoms

(NEWSER) - The Bush administration's warrantless wiretap program wasn't such a great anti-terror tool after all, says a new federal report. The wiretaps—on the international communication of Americans—"generally played a limited role" in counterterrorism efforts, despite the assertions of President Bush, Dick Cheney, and other top officials that they were essential, the New York Times reports. More»

Senate subpoenas; White House balks

(NEWSER) - A showdown on the White House's warantless wiretapping program looms after the Senate Judiciary Committee authorized subpoenas for documents on the progam, and the administration said it had no plans to comply, claiming the material is classified and off limits. The president may invoke executive privilege to prevent the documents' release, Reuters reports. More»

Says he believes it is unconstitutional

(AP) - A federal judge ruled today that Planned Parenthood would likely succeed in overturning a new Kansas law that would deny the group access to federal family planning funding, saying he believes the law is unconstitutional and was intended to punish Planned Parenthood for advocating for abortion rights. US District Judge J. Thomas Marten granted Planned Parenthood of Kansas' request for a temporary injunction blocking the law, which would divert Planned Parenthood funds to hospitals and public health departments. More»

Republican holds on judicial nominees taking a toll

(NEWSER) - Republicans’ refusal to allow votes on President Obama’s judicial nominees has pushed courts to the breaking point, particularly in southwestern courts struggling with drug and illegal immigration trials, the Washington Post reports. In Arizona, for example, some judges are handling about 1200 criminal cases simultaneously. The state recently declared a judicial emergency, extending its deadline to bring defendants to trial. “It’s a dire situation,” says the state’s chief justice. More»

GOP still blocking nominees, Obama slow to nominate

(NEWSER) - The partisan standoff on judges is starting threaten our ability to administer justice. Nearly 1 in 8 federal judgeships are currently vacant, the LA Times reports, as Senate Republicans block many of President Obama’s nominees. Just 47% of Obama’s nominees have been approved—the lowest rate in 30 years by a wide margin (84% for Clinton, 79% for W, 93% for Reagan). “Their objections often are unrelated to a specific nominee,” complains an assistant attorney general, who warns that at this rate, half of the nation's 876 posts could be vacant within a decade. More»