Think Progress

New FISA court appointee was Libby judge.

By Nico Pitney on May 24th, 2007 at 2:41 pm

New FISA court appointee was Libby judge.

“Judge Reggie B. Walton was appointed to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court by the Chief Justice of the United States effective May 19,” Secrecy News reports. The FISA court “is composed of eleven District Court judges who are responsible for authorizing government requests for electronic surveillance and physical search of suspected foreign agents or terrorists within the United States.” Walton, a Bush appointee, “has gained prominence lately as the presiding judge in the trial of former Vice Presidential aide Lewis ‘Scooter’ Libby.”

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10 Responses to “New FISA court appointee was Libby judge.”

heyzeus says:

Ah, the tides are turning!
Justice will prevail!
May 24th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
stopthecons says:

this whole FISA thing is a sham from the get-go. I’m sure there’s plenty of corruption there…..but that doesn’t change the reality that FISA, in and of itself, is a violation of the 4th amendment, and should be abolished.

Here’s the 4th for reference…it’s pretty clear:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Getting retroactive warrants from a secret court just doesn’t work. Enough’s enough!

Some reading:

“The FISA Farce”
http://www.populistamerica.com/the_fisa_farce
May 24th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
TripMaster Monkey says:

Chimpy doesn’t care who’s on the FISA court…after all, he completely circumvents them anyway.
May 24th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Sandy says:

Where’s the information on the upcoming Rosen/Weissman trial on June 4. Who is the judge for THAT?

Will it be covered by C-Span?

With Larry Franklin’s attorney Abbey Lowell threatening to expose a lot of White House folks….

it’s no wonder it is being buried. As Darth would say: “Big Time”.
May 24th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Trekkie says:

“this whole FISA thing is a sham from the get-go. Iâ€™m sure thereâ€™s plenty of corruption thereâ€¦..but that doesnâ€™t change the reality that FISA, in and of itself, is a violation of the 4th amendment, and should be abolished.”

Sorry, but the courts have held that the fourth amendment protection does not extend in this circumstance because the national security interest of the United States outweighs. See United States v. Duggan and United States v. Nicholson.
May 24th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
SomeGaveAll says:

Now that Walton is a FISA judge, who sentences Libby June 5?
May 24th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
WaltTheMan says:

#6 – SomeGaveAll,
Good question! I could volunteer, now, what’s the maximum sentence?
May 24th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Trekkie says:

“Now that Walton is a FISA judge, who sentences Libby June 5?”

Walton still does – serving as a FISA judge does not require him to give up his current post as a U.S. District Court judge. In fact, all of the judges who comprise the FISA court still work as U.S. District Court judges.
May 24th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
SomeGaveAll says:

Thanx, Trekkie. Had me worried there.
May 24th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
moonsha says:

Reggie Walton! I for one am tired of seeing this judge pop up in several of the largest investigations and controversial to date. Walton was also the judge who presided over the Oklahoma City Bombings where an FBI employee was not allowed to speak about Jon Doe #2 the mystery man. Walton also is the judge that has prevent Sibel Edmunds from getting her day in court. So, Sibel Edmunds turned around and filed to see the judge’s financial records which she is entitled to do so. To this day he has denied the release of these records.
May 25th, 2007 at 6:49 am

New FISA court appointee was Libby judge.

New FISA court appointee was Libby judge.

10 Responses to “New FISA court appointee was Libby judge.”

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