Congratulations to Brandon Mayfield (in photo), who grew up in Halstead and Hutchinson, for his legal victory Wednesday. A federal judge ruled as unconstitutional two provisions of the USA Patriot Act that allowed the government to conduct surveillance and searches of American citizens without showing probable cause.
Mayfield, now an attorney in Portland, Ore., was wrongly jailed in 2004 in connection with the Madrid train bombings. He received an apology and $2 million settlement from the government last November. Wednesday’s ruling was the result of a second lawsuit challenging the Patriot Act.
In making her ruling, U.S. District Judge Anne Aiken wisely noted: “For over 200 years, this nation has adhered to the rule of law — with unparalleled success. A shift to a nation based on extraconstitutional authority is prohibited, as well as ill advised.”
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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