FISA should be permanently revised for terror fight: DNI News
FISA should be permanently revised for terror fight: DNI

[JURIST] US Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell [official profile] Monday urged senators [PDF text] to pass long-term legislation to "modernize" the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) [text; JURIST news archive], contending that a permanently-revised FISA is critical to fighting terrorism. Speaking at a hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee [official website] on the status of fighting terrorism six years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks [JURIST news archive], McConnell said:

The recent enactment of the Protect America Act of 2007 provided a necessary update to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. This critical legislation has already assisted the Intelligence Community in closing a critical gap in the IC's ability to provide warning of threats to the country. This Act sunsets in less than six months, and I believe that making its changes permanent will be an important step toward ensuring the protection of our Nation. Importantly, the Act provides for meaningful oversight of activities.

McConnell also called for a "collaborative intelligence enterprise" among government organizations targeting terrorism and other threats to the US, as well as stronger foreign language initiatives in the workforce.

FISA, which was passed in 1978 to allow the US to monitor Americans' overseas conversations, was revamped last month after the US House of Representatives passed [JURIST report] the Protect America Act 2007 [S 1927 materials], granting the Executive Branch expanded surveillance authority for six months. In the interim, Congress will be considering the passage of permanent changes to FISA. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

US Supreme Court ruled Indians not US citizens

On November 3, 1884, the US Supreme Court ruled in Elk v. Wilkins that John Elk, an American Indian who had tried to vote in a federal election in Omaha, Nebraska, was not a US citizen entitled to the protection of the 14th and 15th Amendments of the US Constitution. Native Americans became eligible for citizenship in 1887 under the Dawes Act, but only in 1924, under the Indian Citizenship Act, were all Native Americans born in the US made citizens.

Last public execution at Tyburn Gallows in London

On November 3, 1783, the last public execution took place at Tyburn Gallows in London, when John Austin was hanged for highway robbery. From the hanging of William Fitz Osburn in 1196 until Austin's execution, Tyburn served as London's primary location for public executions.

Learn more about the trial of John Austin.