"Secret" case before SCOTUS

[Catshrink]

This is from a thread posted in the Foreign Affairs/National Security 9/11, Military Affairs, and Terrorism forum. I haven't seen it posted in GD and thought it important to bring up here. The link is:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=125&topic_id=3672

Basically, the article in the Christian Science Monitor is about a case so secret theat there is no record of it -- the entire docket is sealed. The author said the case may force examination of the secret tactics employed by Ashcroft.

I think it's pretty creepy. If the Supremes take up this case, and work in utter secrecy, what's to prevent them from secretly overturning the Bill or Rights or cancelling the next presidential election? I would think that Breyer, Ginsburg, Stevens, and Souter would prevent this from happening, but the others???? What do you think?

article snip:

The justices consider a petition for a case with no public record.

By Warren Richey

MIAMI – It's the case that doesn't exist. Even though two different federal courts have conducted hearings and issued rulings, there has been no public record of any action. No documents are available. No files. No lawyer is allowed to speak about it. Period.

Yet this seemingly phantom case does exist - and is now headed to the US Supreme Court in what could produce a significant test of a question as old as the Star Chamber, abolished in 17th-century England: How far should a policy of total secrecy extend into a system of justice?

article link: http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1030/p01s02-usju.html

[DUreader]

1. kick

[SOteric]

2. Wow. That is chilling.

[Catshrink]

3. That's what I thought

I thought it had to be some kind of conspiracy theory by some nutcase. But this is from the CSM, which lends it credence. creepy indeed.

[Pastiche423]

4. "The case is significant

because it could force a close examination of secret tactics that are apparently becoming increasingly common under Attorney General Ashcroft. In September 2001, he ordered that all deportation hearings with links to the Sept. 11 investigation be conducted secretly. In addition, the Justice Department has acknowledged that at least nine criminal cases related to the Sept. 11 investigation were being cloaked in total secrecy."

In secret

No one is allowed to know what our government is doing...

"For our National Security" = if we, the people were to find out what has and is being done, they'd be lynched.

[Catshrink]

5. kick

doesn't this scare you?

:kick: