FISA Court Appointments, Potential Reforms, and More from CRS
It was announced today that Chief Justice Roberts has appointed Judge James E. Boasberg of the DC District Court to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court for a seven year term beginning in May 2014. He will replace the outgoing Presiding Judge Reggie Walton, whose term expires in May. The Chief Justice also appointed Judge Richard C. Tallman of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review.
The current membership of the FISA Courts can be found here.
Background information on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and potential changes to its operations were discussed in a new report from the Congressional Research Service. See Reform of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Courts: Procedural and Operational Changes, January 16, 2014.
Relatedly from CRS, see Introducing a Public Advocate into the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act’s Courts: Select Legal Issues, October 25, 2013
Other new and updated CRS reports that Congress has withheld from online public distribution include the following.
The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics: Security and Human Rights Issues, January 26, 2014
The National Defense Authorization Act for FY2012 and Beyond: Detainee Matters, January 27, 2014
Cuba: U.S. Policy and Issues for the 113th Congress, January 29, 2014
Cuba: U.S. Restrictions on Travel and Remittances, February 4, 2014
Mexico: Background and U.S. Relations, January 30, 2014
Status of Mexican Trucks in the United States: Frequently Asked Questions, January 3, 2014
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): Background, Legislation, and Policy Issues, January 23, 2014
DNA synthesis and export controls remain the primary regulatory safeguards against de novo production of harmful biological agents, yet governance frameworks lack the situational awareness and enforcement capacity to keep pace with rapidly falling technical barriers.
Called today to speak on behalf of U.S. science and technology, Dr. Jedidah Isler, astrophysicist, educator, strategist, policy-maker, and science communicator, will provide constructive, nonpartisan feedback to the House Committee’s hearing “American Global Competitiveness at 250: Legislative Proposals to Secure U.S. Technology Leadership.”
“Federal data and access to it is not a partisan issue. It is a people issue. Our country cannot achieve greatness without access to the data that measure what we value, who we are, and where we’re heading.”
The United States’ biosecurity governance system is structurally incapable of detecting and responding to certain classes of threats. U.S. biosecurity tools have not kept pace with technological advancements or a changing threat landscape.