SECRECY NEWS
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
Volume 2013, Issue No. 15
February 6, 2013

Secrecy News Blog: http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/

JUDGE WALTON NAMED PRESIDING JUDGE OF FISA COURT

Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts has appointed D.C. District Judge Reggie B. Walton to serve as Presiding Judge of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, effective February 22, 2013.

Judge Walton, who has been a member of the FIS Court since May 2007, will replace Presiding Judge John D. Bates, whose term expires on February 21. Judge Walton's own term on the Court extends through May 18, 2014. His appointment as Presiding Judge was confirmed by Sheldon Snook, spokesman for the Court.

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court reviews and authorizes applications for electronic surveillance and physical search under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. A roster of the current court membership is here:

The Court's operation under the recently renewed FISA Amendments Act was discussed in "Reauthorization of the FISA Amendments Act," Congressional Research Service, January 2, 2013:

In his regular capacity as district court judge, Judge Walton has presided over a number of celebrated cases including U.S. v. Libby, U.S. v. Roger Clemens, and Hatfill v. John Ashcroft. Less famously, he also heard Aftergood v. National Reconnaissance Office, a 2005 Freedom of Information Act case in which he ruled in favor of the plaintiff, myself. That case inaugurated the now-routine public release of unclassified intelligence agency budget justification records.

MENTAL DISORDERS AMONG IRAQ VETERANS, AND MORE FROM CRS

New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following.

Mental Disorders Among OEF/OIF Veterans Using VA Health Care: Facts and Figures, February 4, 2013:

Evaluating the "Past Performance" of Federal Contractors: Legal Requirements and Issues, February 4, 2013:

Increasing the Social Security Payroll Tax Base: Options and Effects on Tax Burdens, February 5, 2013:

Water Resource Issues in the 113th Congress, January 31, 2013:

Upcoming Rules Pursuant to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: The 2012 Unified Agenda, February 1, 2013:

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012: Modifications to the Budget Enforcement Procedures in the Budget Control Act, February 4, 2013: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42949.pdf

United Nations System Funding: Congressional Issues, January 15, 2013:

U.S. Foreign Aid to the Palestinians, January 18, 2013:

European Union Enlargement, February 4, 2013:

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Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the Federation of American Scientists.

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