Library, ACLU sue federal government over Patriot Act subpoena News
Library, ACLU sue federal government over Patriot Act subpoena

[JURIST] The American Civil Liberties Union [advocacy website] announced Thursday that it, along with an unnamed library, has filed suit [press release] in the US District Court of Connecticut against US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and FBI Director Robert Mueller challenging the constitutionality of a provision of the USA PATRIOT Act [PDF text]. According to the complaint [PDF text], the ACLU is challenging the government's use of an administrative subpoena known as a National Security Letter, which allows the FBI access to library records and prevents anyone in receipt of the subpoena from ever stating that the FBI made the demand. The current suit is under a heavy gag order, which the unnamed library and ACLU have challenged on First Amendment grounds. The court has scheduled an emergency hearing for August 31 to hear the request. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

UN Security Council called for Israeli withdrawal from territories occupied in Six Days' War

On November 22, 1967, the UN Security Council called for Israeli withdrawal from territories occupied during the Six Days' War, and for respect of the right of all States in the area to "live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries." Read Resolution 242, which remains a cornerstone of efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East.

President Kennedy assassinated, VP Lyndon Johnson sworn inin

On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Later that day, Vice-President Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United States. Earl Warren, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was later tasked with leading a commission to investigate the assassination. President Johnson received the final report of the Warren Commission on September 24, 1964. Read the Warren Commission Report.