Judge orders Justice to produce wiretap memos

[struggle4progress]

Source: Associated Press

By JOAN LOWY
Saturday, November 1, 2008

(11-01) 10:52 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) -- ... U.S. District Judge Henry Kennedy Jr. signed an order Friday requiring the department to produce the memos by the White House legal counsel's office by Nov. 17. He said he will review the memos in private to determine if any information can be released publicly without violating attorney-client privilege.

Kennedy issued his order in response to lawsuits by civil liberties groups in 2005 after news reports disclosed the wiretapping.

The department had argued that the memos were protected attorney-client communications.

But Kennedy said that argument was "too vague" and that he would have to look at the documents himself ...

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/1...

[Piewhacket]

1. Even if Attorney-Client Privilege applies...

there are exceptions to it.
The judge must examine the documents to decide if
the communication meets the legal requirements for A-C Priv,
and even if so whether there is an arguable exception.

Could be a significant post election story if documents are released,
because these are bound to be quite whacked-out and possibly criminal
ramblings.

Thank you struggle4progress.
Back burner, but please keep it warm for us.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

2. Judge orders White House to produce wiretap memos

Source: AP

WASHINGTON – A judge has ordered the Justice Department to produce White House memos that provide the legal basis for the Bush administration's post-Sept. 11 warrantless wiretapping program.

U.S. District Judge Henry Kennedy Jr. signed an order Friday requiring the department to produce the memos by the White House legal counsel's office by Nov. 17. He said he will review the memos in private to determine if any information can be released publicly without violating attorney-client privilege or jeopardizing national security.

Kennedy issued his order in response to lawsuits by civil liberties groups in 2005 after news reports disclosed the wiretapping.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081102/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/w...

[MonteLukast]

3. Is it because they're almost out?

Whatever the reason, I'm glad for this newfound courage by our courts.

Wish I would've seen more of it sooner, of course... but when somebody's threatening you with loss of your livelihood, I guess you learn to play ball...

[struggle4progress]

4. dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[myrna minx]

5. K&R n/t