The chief judge of the FISA court is Reggie B. Walton. He was appointed to the court in 2001 by President George W. Bush. [1]
Key Facts
- The FISC was established under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) to oversee requests for surveillance warrants against foreign spies inside the United States by federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
- The FISC reviews requests to conduct physical and electronic surveillance within the U.S. concerning “foreign intelligence information” between “foreign powers” and “agents of foreign powers” suspected of espionage or terrorism.
- FISA warrant requests for electronic surveillance have been granted significantly more often than denied. From 1979 to 2017, out of a total of 41,222 requests submitted, 40,668 were approved, 1,252 were modified, and 85 were denied.
- The FISC has been involved in notable cases, such as the rejection of applications for search warrants and wiretaps due to erroneous information provided by the FBI and Justice Department officials.
- The FISC’s jurisdiction has expanded over time to include various investigatory activities for foreign intelligence purposes, such as searches of property, pen register and trap and trace surveillance, obtaining business records, and surveillance activities overseas targeting U.S. persons who are officers, employees, or agents of a foreign power.
Background of the FISA Court
The FISA court was established in 1978 under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The court was created in response to concerns about the government’s use of electronic surveillance to gather intelligence on U.S. citizens without a warrant. [1]
The FISA court is a secret court, meaning that its proceedings are not open to the public. The court’s judges are appointed by the Chief Justice of the United States. [1]
Jurisdiction of the FISA Court
The FISA court has jurisdiction to review requests for surveillance warrants against foreign spies inside the United States. The court also has jurisdiction to review requests for other investigatory activities, such as searches of property, pen register and trap and trace surveillance, obtaining business records, and surveillance activities overseas targeting U.S. persons who are officers, employees, or agents of a foreign power. [1]
FISA Warrant Requests
FISA warrant requests are typically made by the National Security Agency (NSA) or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The requests must be approved by a judge of the FISA court before the surveillance can be conducted. [1]
FISA warrant requests for electronic surveillance have been granted significantly more often than denied. From 1979 to 2017, out of a total of 41,222 requests submitted, 40,668 were approved, 1,252 were modified, and 85 were denied. [1]
Notable Cases Involving the FISA Court
The FISA court has been involved in several notable cases. In 2002, the court rejected applications for search warrants and wiretaps due to erroneous information provided by the FBI and Justice Department officials. [1]
In 2013, the FISA court approved a request by the NSA to collect phone records from Verizon. The request was later challenged in court, and the FISA court ruled that the NSA’s collection of phone records was unconstitutional. [1]
Sources
[1] United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court – Wikipedia
[2] The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (https://www.intel.gov/foreign-intelligence-surveillance-act/1238-the-foreign-intelligence-surveillance-court)
[3] Sentencing Reports for Judges Serving on the FISA Court (https://trac.syr.edu/tracreports/judge/327/)
FAQs
Who is the chief judge of the FISA court?
Reggie B. Walton is the chief judge of the FISA court.
When was Reggie B. Walton appointed to the FISA court?
Reggie B. Walton was appointed to the FISA court in 2001.
Who appointed Reggie B. Walton to the FISA court?
Reggie B. Walton was appointed to the FISA court by President George W. Bush.
What is the FISA court?
The FISA court is a secret court that reviews requests for surveillance warrants against foreign spies inside the United States.
What is the jurisdiction of the FISA court?
The FISA court has jurisdiction to review requests for surveillance warrants against foreign spies inside the United States, as well as other investigatory activities such as searches of property, pen register and trap and trace surveillance, obtaining business records, and surveillance activities overseas targeting U.S. persons who are officers, employees, or agents of a foreign power.
How often are FISA warrant requests granted?
FISA warrant requests for electronic surveillance have been granted significantly more often than denied. From 1979 to 2017, out of a total of 41,222 requests submitted, 40,668 were approved, 1,252 were modified, and 85 were denied.
What are some notable cases involving the FISA court?
The FISA court has been involved in several notable cases, including the rejection of applications for search warrants and wiretaps due to erroneous information provided by the FBI and Justice Department officials in 2002, and the approval of a request by the NSA to collect phone records from Verizon in 2013, which was later ruled unconstitutional.