U.S. District Judge: Forced Decryption of Hard Drives Violates Fifth Amendment 417
hansamurai writes with an update to a story we've been following for a while. Jeffrey Feldman is at the center of an ongoing case about whether or not crime suspects can be forced to decrypt their own hard drives. (Feldman is accused of having child pornography on his hard drives.) After initially having a federal judge say Feldman was protected by the Fifth Amendment, law enforcement officials were able to break the encyption on one of his many seized storage devices. The decrypted contents contained child pornography, so a different judge said the direct evidence of criminal activity meant Feldman was not protected anymore by the Fifth Amendment. Now, a third judge has granted the defense attorney's emergency motion to rescind that decision, saying Feldman is once again (still?) protected by the Fifth Amendment. Feldman's lawyer said,
"I will move heaven and earth to make sure that the war on the infinitesimal amount of child pornography that recirculates on the Internet does not eradicate the Fifth Amendment the way the war on drugs has eviscerated the Fourth Amendment. This case is going to go many rounds. Regardless of who wins the next round, the other side will appeal, invariably landing in the lap of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and quite possibly the U.S. Supreme Court. The grim reality facing our country today is one where we currently have a percentage of our population behind bars that surpasses even the heights of the gulags in Stalinist Russia. On too many days criminal lawyers lose all rounds. But for today: The Shellow Group: 1, Government: 0."
Re:I hope the guy wins (Score:2, Funny)
Re:My goodness (Score:5, Funny)
An outbreak of common sense. I can scarcely believe my eyes.
Now to see if it holds.
And all under the guise of two things: Either "Terrorism" (makes you think who really won, doesn't it?), or "won't someone think of the children" (as if THIS case will magically remove ALL child porn from the internet).
Fear nothing but fear itself...
Where is the leader who can make this clear? Where is the leader who can offer hope?
Sarah Palin?
Ouch! Stop punching me!
Re:My goodness (Score:5, Funny)
"Think of all the terrorist children!"
Re:My goodness (Score:5, Funny)
Sarah Palin?
Ouch! Stop punching me!
You brought her into this, you'll have to make her stop.
Re:My goodness (Score:5, Funny)
And you thought that Michael was the funniest Palin :-P I bet he really hates her for being so much more Monty Python than the origin Monty Python Palin.
Comment removed (Score:4, Funny)
Re:You don't have to open the door (Score:2, Funny)