state-secrets

He has been much more prudent than President George W. Bush in using this tool to block legal challenges to government behavior, yet he did invoke the state-secrets defense to block a lawsuit by an American citizen wrongly arrested and tortured, and to frustrate litigation alleging unauthorized wiretaps by the U.S. government.

The Good Fight Walter F. Mondale 2010

He has been much more prudent than President George W. Bush in using this tool to block legal challenges to government behavior, yet he did invoke the state-secrets defense to block a lawsuit by an American citizen wrongly arrested and tortured, and to frustrate litigation alleging unauthorized wiretaps by the U.S. government.

The Good Fight Walter F. Mondale 2010

He has been much more prudent than President George W. Bush in using this tool to block legal challenges to government behavior, yet he did invoke the state-secrets defense to block a lawsuit by an American citizen wrongly arrested and tortured, and to frustrate litigation alleging unauthorized wiretaps by the U.S. government.

The Good Fight Walter F. Mondale 2010

For years, the larger debate over the state-secrets privilege has played out in lower courts, in Congress and in the Bush and Obama administrations.

Test of 'state secrets' shield goes before Supreme Court 2011

More accountability sought The Obama team generally has carried over Bush administration state-secrets arguments in lower-court cases.

Test of 'state secrets' shield goes before Supreme Court 2011

The government said that the main differences centered on costs, rather than access to certain information, yet invoked the state-secrets privilege to prevent disclosure of what it deemed highly sensitive information.

Test of 'state secrets' shield goes before Supreme Court 2011

Safeguards asserted As the case wended its way through courts for nearly two decades, the companies contended that by raising the state-secrets privilege and limiting access to documents, the government prevented them from proving they were not responsible for delays and should not have to repay the money.

Test of 'state secrets' shield goes before Supreme Court 2011

General Dynamics and Boeing say that while there are times the state-secrets privilege is legitimately invoked, in this case it was used for a litigation advantage.

Test of 'state secrets' shield goes before Supreme Court 2011

Unlike in the usual state-secrets situations, where the government is being sued, the government started this case.

Test of 'state secrets' shield goes before Supreme Court 2011

The ACLU, which represents the men, filed an appeal last month at the Supreme Court, arguing that the government is improperly using state-secrets privilege "to deny justice to torture victims."

Test of 'state secrets' shield goes before Supreme Court 2011