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Case Name
ACLU v. NSA
NS-MI-0002
Docket / Court
06-cv-10204 ( E.D. Mich. )
State/Territory
Michigan
Case Type(s)
National Security
Special Collection
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act -- All Matters
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act -- Internet Metadata
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act -- Telephony Metadata
Attorney Organization
ACLU Chapters (any)
ACLU National (all projects)
ACLU of Michigan
Case Summary
On January 17, 2006, a group of organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and a number of individuals, filed a law suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan against the National Security Agency (NSA), under Bivens and the Administrative Procedure ...
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On January 17, 2006, a group of organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and a number of individuals, filed a law suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan against the National Security Agency (NSA), under Bivens and the Administrative Procedure Act. The plaintiffs challenged the legality of NSA's Terrorist Surveillance Program (TSP) as violating their free speech and privacy rights as well as the Separation of Powers doctrine. The plaintiffs, represented by the ACLU, asked the court for declaratory judgment and permanent injunction.
The plaintiffs alleged that their regular conduct (e.g., journalism, the practice of law, and scholarship) have been impaired by the TSP, which violated various portions of the U.S. Constitution. The NSA countered that the plaintiffs: (1) lacked standing; and (2) could not establish a prima facie case without the use of state secrets, so that the state secret privilege barred plaintiffs' claims.
On August 17, 2006, the District Court (Judge Anna Diggs Taylor) disagreed with most of the NSA's arguments, and issued a judgment and permanent injunction order: (1) the TSP violated the Separation of Powers doctrine, the Administrative Procedures Act, the First and Fourth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution; and (2) the NSA was enjoined from utilizing the TSP including conducting wireless wiretaps of telephone and internet communication, as violating the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and Title III. The plaintiffs' data-mining claims were denied. The same day, the NSA filed an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit.
The 6th Circuit stayed the operation of the the district court's injunction, 467 F.3d 590 (6th Cir., Oct. 4, 2006) and then on July 6, 2007, vacated the District Court's order and remanded the case with instructions to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction. The Court of Appeals found that the plaintiffs lacked standing. 493 F.3d 644 (6th Cir. 2007). On March 3, 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari review. 552 U.S. 1179.
David Cho - 10/05/2014
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Issues and Causes of Action
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Issues
Affected Gender
Female
Male
Constitutional Clause
Freedom of speech/association
Unreasonable search and seizure
Content of Injunction
Warrant/order for search or seizure
Defendant-type
Jurisdiction-wide
General
Confidentiality
Search policies
Terrorism/Post 9-11 issues
Plaintiff Type
Non-profit NON-religious organization
Private Plaintiff
Type of Facility
Government-run
Causes of Action
FISA Title I Warrant (Electronic Surveillance), 50 U.S.C. §§ 1801-1812
Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201
Ex Parte Young (Federal) or Bivens
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.
Case Details
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Defendant(s)
National Security Agency
Plaintiff Description
Non-profit organizations (ACLU, ACLU Foundation, ACLU of Michigan, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Council on American-Islamic Relations Michigan, Greenpeace, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers) and concerned citizens.
Indexed Lawyer Organizations
ACLU Chapters (any)
ACLU National (all projects)
ACLU of Michigan
Class action status sought
No
Class action status granted
No
Filed Pro Se
No
Prevailing Party
Defendant
Public Int. Lawyer
Yes
Nature of Relief
Preliminary injunction / Temp. restraining order
None
Source of Relief
Litigation
Order Duration
2006 - 2006
Filing Year
2006
Case Closing Year
2007
Case Ongoing
No
Additional Resources
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Documents
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Docket(s)
2:06-cv-10204
(E.D. Mich.)
NS-MI-0002-9000.pdf
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Detail
Date: 03/03/2008
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
General Documents
Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief [ECF# 1]
NS-MI-0002-0001.pdf
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Detail
Date: 01/17/2006
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
Memorandum Opinion [ECF# 70]
(438 F.Supp.2d 754) (E.D. Mich.)
NS-MI-0002-0002.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
Date: 08/17/2006
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
Judgment and Preliminary Injunction Order [ECF# 71]
(E.D. Mich.)
NS-MI-0002-0003.pdf
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Detail
Date: 08/17/2006
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
Opinion [Vacating Order and Remanding Case]
(493 F.3d 644)
NS-MI-0002-0005.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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External Link
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Detail
Date: 07/06/2007
Source: U.S. Court of Appeals website
Order Dismissing Case [ECF# 100]
(E.D. Mich.)
NS-MI-0002-0004.pdf
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Detail
Date: 11/28/2007
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
People
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Judges
Batchelder, Alice Moore
(N.D. Ohio, Sixth Circuit)
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NS-MI-0002-0005
Gibbons, Julia Smith
(W.D. Tenn., Sixth Circuit)
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NS-MI-0002-0005
Gilman, Ronald Lee
(Sixth Circuit)
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NS-MI-0002-0005
Taylor, Anna Katherine Johnston Diggs
(E.D. Mich.)
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NS-MI-0002-0002 | NS-MI-0002-0003 | NS-MI-0002-0004 | NS-MI-0002-9000
Plaintiff's Lawyers
Beeson, Ann
(District of Columbia)
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NS-MI-0002-0001 | NS-MI-0002-9000
Costello, Margaret A.
(Michigan)
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NS-MI-0002-9000
Crump, Catherine
(New York)
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NS-MI-0002-0001
Goodman, Melissa
(New York)
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NS-MI-0002-0001
Jaffer, Jameel
(New York)
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NS-MI-0002-0001 | NS-MI-0002-9000
Moss, Kary L.
(Michigan)
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NS-MI-0002-0001 | NS-MI-0002-9000
Steinberg, Michael J.
(Michigan)
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NS-MI-0002-0001 | NS-MI-0002-9000
Defendant's Lawyers
Coppolino, Anthony J.
(District of Columbia)
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NS-MI-0002-9000
Tannenbaum, Andrew H.
(District of Columbia)
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NS-MI-0002-9000
Other Lawyers
Davis, Hugh M. Jr.
(Michigan)
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NS-MI-0002-9000
Green, Saul A.
(Michigan)
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NS-MI-0002-9000
Nickelhoff, Andrew A.
(Michigan)
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NS-MI-0002-9000
Samp, Richard A.
(District of Columbia)
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NS-MI-0002-9000
Saylor, Larry J.
(Michigan)
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NS-MI-0002-9000
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