U.S. appeals court grills opponents of NSA phone data collection

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

U.S. appeals court grills opponents of NSA phone data collection

BY ARUNA VISWANATHA
WASHINGTON Tue Nov 4, 2014 12:52pm EST

(Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday grilled opponents of the U.S. government program that collects millions of Americans' phone records, casting doubt on whether it would uphold a lower court ruling that found the program was likely unlawful.

This case is one of a handful brought against the program run by the National Security Agency since its existence was revealed in June 2013 by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

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A three-judge appellate panel on Tuesday appeared skeptical of the Washington-based case, brought by conservative lawyer Larry Klayman.

"It seems to be you are telescoping the process in a way that obscures the analysis," Judge Stephen Williams said.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/04/us-usa-surveillance-hearing-idUSKBN0IO1TO20141104

[midnight]

1. I'm wondering when this part will become more evident?

"Three district courts overall have weighed in. Two courts sided with the government, but Washington federal judge Richard Leon said in December the "Orwellian" program likely violated Americans' 4th Amendment right to be free of unreasonable searches."