Appeals Court to Hear Oral Arguments in Idaho Woman's Case Against NSA Spying | WPN World People News

An appeals court will hear oral arguments in Smith v. Obama, a case filed by an Idaho nurse against a controversial National Security Agency (NSA) telephone data collection program, in Seattle on Monday, Dec. 8.

Anna Smith, a neonatal nurse from Coeur d'Alene, filed her lawsuit against President Barack Obama and several U.S. intelligence agencies in June 2013, shortly after the government confirmed that the NSA was collecting telephone records on a massive scale under Section 215 of the Patriot Act. Smith, a Verizon customer, argues the program violated her Fourth Amendment rights by amassing a wealth of detail about her familial, political, professional, religious, and intimate associations. Following a district court ruling against Smith, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho joined the case as co-counsel in July 2014 to assist in crafting the appeal.

Anna Smith's husband, Peter Smith of Lukins & Annis, P.S., who filed the case and argued on Anna's behalf to the trial court, will present oral arguments before a panel of three judges (Hon. Michael Daly Hawkins, Hon. M. Margaret McKeown, and Hon. Richard C. Tallman) at the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Source: Electronic Frontier Foundation