A federal court in Los Angeles has issued the first ruling in the country declaring unconstitutional part of the USA Patriot Act. U.S. District Judge Audrey Collins ruled January 23 that a ban on providing "expert advice and assistance" to terrorist groups violates the Constitution because it is so vague that it "could be construed to include unequivocally pure speech and advocacy protected by the First Amendment."

The legality of the Patriot Act, enacted six weeks after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, was challenged by the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), New York. Nancy Chang, senior staff counsel at CCR, said, "The Patriot Act was passed by Congress in tremendous haste and with little deliberation over its restrictions on civil liberties, under intense pressure from the Bush administration. The court’s ruling affirms the principle that, in fighting terrorism, Congress and the President are not free to ignore our fundamental constitutional rights."

– edited from CCR-NY.org
PeaceMeal, Jan/February 2004