August 17, 2006 1:26PM 

# Judge Says NSA Wiretapping Program Unconstitutional 

By [Tim Lynch](https://www.cato.org/people/tim-lynch) 

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The ACLU brought a constitutional challenge to the NSA’s controversial wiretapping program several months ago and the judge has now ruled the NSA program to be [unconstitutional](http://www.mied.uscourts.gov/_opinions/judgeOpin.cfm?e_jd_ID=4531) (click on the 06–10204 pdf). This is just the initial round of what will likely be a long legal fight. The government will appeal and the battle will move to an appeals court, and then possibly to the U.S. Supreme Court.

For additional background, go [here](https://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=6330) and [here](https://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=2877).

##### Related Tags 

[Defense and Foreign Policy](https://www.cato.org/defense-foreign-policy), [General](https://www.cato.org/general), [Constitutional Law](https://www.cato.org/constitutional-law), [Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies](https://www.cato.org/robert-levy-center-constitutional-studies) 

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