Judge John Bates Full Ruling on Plame/Wilson Lawsuit

[sabra]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

<snip>

First, Bates concluded that the couple could not sue for the disclosure of Plame’s identity because it appeared Congress had not intended that federal employees in Plame’s situation could recover damages against the federal government or its officials. Second, Bates dismissed the lawsuit because allowing it to proceed would likely cause “judicial intrusion into matters of national security” – matters which the Executive branch of the federal government has unique authority over. Finally, Bates noted that the couple had not filed the required administrative claim before coming to court.

(Full ruling here): https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2006cv1258-52

[pepperbear]

1. wow. one would think that the time to worry about national security would have been...

before vindictively leaking the name of a covert agent.

[napi21]

2. I accept his first premise that fed employees could not recover

danages against the fed. govt. That's pretty much SOP. I don't accept his national security argument! A judge can easily redact any sensitive information from the evidence presented in his court.

[Ian David]

3. So, if they file the administrative claim, they can try again? n/t

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

4. What I'm wondering is how this judge got assigned both the Cheney Energy Task Force case

and this one. There are about 20 judges who sit on the bench with the D.C. Federal District Court. Coincidence? I guess it is, but a convenient one.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. The first two reasons are bullshit and the third is a technicality

And he worked for Ken Starr? Why is this shyster still a member of the bar?