Civil Liberties & National Security

"A state of war is not a blank check for the President when it comes to the rights of the Nation’s citizens."

–Justice Sandra Day O’Connor in Hamdi v.Rumsfeld

Protecting Civil Liberties in Troubled Times

The courts uphold our liberties--provided they have the authority to do their job in our system of checks and balances. Since the terrorist attacks of 2001, however, the USA PATRIOT Act and other policies have weakened the historic power of courts to protect our rights and check possible government abuses.

These laws give the federal government more power to investigate and lock people up without meaningful review by a judge. In some instances, our judges’ gavels have been taken away and replaced with rubber stamps. In others, the government can now skip the courthouse altogether.

Safety and liberty are inseparable. As a growing number of citizens and lawmakers have reminded us in the years since Sept. 11, we are fighting not just against a terrorist threat but also to protect the Constitution, which has endured through more than two centuries of peace and war. In this struggle, the courts are not impediments. They are an indispensable partner in achieving victory.

To learn more: See Justice at Stake's "Courting Danger" report.