US judge quits in protest against spying

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21. — In yet another blow to the Bush administration, a judge of a special US court on foreign intelligence surveillance has resigned protesting the secret authorisation of a spying programme by the National Security Agency (NSA) without obtaining warrants, reports said today.
District Judge Mr James Robertson stepped down on Monday without giving any reason to the Supreme Court Chief Justice, Mr John Roberts, the Washington Post reported citing two of his associates. Mr Robertson was one of 11 members of the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court that rules on federal applications for secret surveillance or searches of American citizens and foreigners who are suspected of either terrorism or espionage. His decision to step down came from concern over a surveillance programme set in motion by President Bush — that it may be legally questionable and also tainting the work of the special court, the daily reported. The Post reported that Judge Robertson had indicated that the administration, could use information got from “warrantless” surveillance for a warrant under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act

thestatesman