Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

KittyWampus

(55,894 posts)
Sat Aug 31, 2013, 10:49 AM Aug 2013

Judge Rules Americans Have A Right To Air Travel, Takes Aim At ‘No Fly’ List

Judge Rules Americans Have A Right To Air Travel, Takes Aim At ‘No Fly’ List
by JEAN ANN ESSELINK on AUGUST 30, 2013
in CIVIL RIGHTS,JEAN ANN ESSELINK,NEWS

A Federal Judge in Portland Oregon ruled yesterday that air travel is not a “mere convenience” as the government maintains, but a constitutional right that cannot be taken away without due process. The decision puts in jeopardy the use of the current ‘No Fly’ list because the government does not even inform citizens their names are being added, much less give them an opportunity to contest their inclusion. Judge Anna J. Brown ruled:


“Although there are perhaps viable alternatives to flying for domestic travel within the continental United States such as traveling by car or train, the Court disagrees with Defendants’ contention that international air travel is a mere convenience in light of the realities of our modern world. Such an argument ignores the numerous reasons an individual may have for wanting or needing to travel overseas quickly such as for the birth of a child, the death of a loved one, a business opportunity, or a religious obligation… the Court concludes on this record that Plaintiffs have a constitutionally-protected liberty interest in traveling internationally by air, which is affected by being placed on the list.”

The lawsuit was brought by the ACLU on behalf of thirteen people, including four former servicemen, whose names appear on the government’s No Fly List, though they say they have no idea why. News of the favorable decision was posted on the ACLU website last evening.

The ACLU argued the No Fly List violates the Fifth Amendment, which guarantees that a citizen cannot be deprived of liberty without due process. They further argued that no one is ever informed that they are on the list; the only way to know for sure is to buy a ticket and see if screeners allow you on a plane. They also contend that the government will not tell people on the list why they have been included, nor is there any reliable procedure to be taken off the No Fly List. Judge Brown agreed.


http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/judge-rules-americans-have-a-right-to-air-travel-takes-aim-at-no-fly-list/news/

26 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Judge Rules Americans Have A Right To Air Travel, Takes Aim At ‘No Fly’ List (Original Post) KittyWampus Aug 2013 OP
Yes! gopiscrap Aug 2013 #1
I applaud any move to expand our rights . . . . Agnosticsherbet Aug 2013 #2
I'm sure Fat Tony and the other fascists will fix that. Hassin Bin Sober Aug 2013 #3
Thank heaven sedan chairs were out of fashion by then. Morning Dew Aug 2013 #12
This is an important point. Thanks for posting. cthulu2016 Aug 2013 #4
Exactly.....priveleges can be taken away, but not rights. dixiegrrrrl Aug 2013 #5
Rights can be taken away, but only through due process NutmegYankee Sep 2013 #26
+1,000,000!!! I have been on that stupid list since 12/2001! Dustlawyer Aug 2013 #6
They assigned you an FBI agent? The only upsides (black humor) are you made a new friend AND KittyWampus Aug 2013 #8
1 out of 2 ain't bad! I took the whole family to Jamaica! Dustlawyer Sep 2013 #25
+10 to the ninth power indepat Aug 2013 #21
You would think that if the founding fathers had meant for us to travel by air... eggplant Aug 2013 #7
And E-mails and the Internet. RC Aug 2013 #9
ROTFL. eggplant Aug 2013 #16
Excellent. The No Fly List is an absolute Orwellian obscenity. (nt) Nye Bevan Aug 2013 #10
Since 9/11, the government has done everything they can to destroy air travel. Initech Aug 2013 #11
OMG! I am CRYING! Free at last! Free at last! Demeter Aug 2013 #13
Thought they'd use the assumption of innocence.... Spitfire of ATJ Aug 2013 #14
Such a ruling was warranted the day the no-fly list appeared in it present form. Where the eff indepat Aug 2013 #15
they've been waiting for someone with standing to file suit. n/t eggplant Aug 2013 #17
If no one has bothered or cared to file a lawsuit, then it must not have been a problem indepat Aug 2013 #18
I don't understand your point. eggplant Aug 2013 #19
Don't understand why it has taken so long for a lawsuit to be filed indepat Aug 2013 #20
It was filed over three years ago. eggplant Sep 2013 #24
This is something Pres Obama could have taken care of years ago. nm rhett o rick Aug 2013 #22
THANK YOU. snot Sep 2013 #23

Agnosticsherbet

(11,619 posts)
2. I applaud any move to expand our rights . . . .
Sat Aug 31, 2013, 11:01 AM
Aug 2013

This was a good decision, and I hope it stands all the way to the SCOTUS.

Hassin Bin Sober

(26,767 posts)
3. I'm sure Fat Tony and the other fascists will fix that.
Sat Aug 31, 2013, 11:02 AM
Aug 2013

Fat Tony will probably say only horse and covered wagon was covered in The Constitution.

Morning Dew

(6,539 posts)
12. Thank heaven sedan chairs were out of fashion by then.
Sat Aug 31, 2013, 01:34 PM
Aug 2013

It's so hard to find good help these days.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,011 posts)
5. Exactly.....priveleges can be taken away, but not rights.
Sat Aug 31, 2013, 11:18 AM
Aug 2013

I am really surprised that no court cases against the ursurption of rights have been brought forward all this time.

NutmegYankee

(16,329 posts)
26. Rights can be taken away, but only through due process
Sun Sep 1, 2013, 09:59 AM
Sep 2013

Usually this is part of the punishment for a crime. But the "no fly list" has no court rulings or oversight.

Dustlawyer

(10,518 posts)
6. +1,000,000!!! I have been on that stupid list since 12/2001!
Sat Aug 31, 2013, 12:38 PM
Aug 2013

I have had guns pulled on me, been subjected up to 5 separate searches just to board a domestic flight! I have missed flights when I was there for more than 3 hours! All because a terrorist from South Yeman used my very common name as an alias 1 time!
In the early days after 9/11 they were grossly over-reacting. While waiting in a velvet rope square next to a cop while American Airlines were trying to unfreeze their computer system since my attempt to check in caused their whole system to freeze, not allowing anyone else to check in, I called the FAA. The young man who first spoke called out and said we have another ____ (my name). His supervisor got on the phone laughing. She told me it was the FBI's fault and I would have to talk to them to clear my name. She asked if I was in an airport to which I replied yes. She told me to go to a news stand and look in that months issue of the New Yorker magazine. When I was eventually freed I did, and I saw an article about people with my name and names similar to mine being stopped and harassed like I was.
The FBI blamed it on the FAA with both saying the other was the only one who could take my name off. Eventually, I became a frequent flyer of one airline and could check in electronically and not have a problem. They assigned me an FBI agent that I could have people call to clear me faster except he never answered his phone.
I don't fly much anymore but when I go to Brazil this year I have to plan on getting their 6 hours early. They never take ANY NAMES OFF THE DAMN LIST! The terrorist have won! They use common names as an alias to screw up thousands more people that fly!

 

KittyWampus

(55,894 posts)
8. They assigned you an FBI agent? The only upsides (black humor) are you made a new friend AND
Sat Aug 31, 2013, 12:49 PM
Aug 2013

probably racked up a bunch of frequent flier miles using one carrier!

indepat

(20,899 posts)
21. +10 to the ninth power
Sat Aug 31, 2013, 09:02 PM
Aug 2013

You describe the sheer lunacy of the paranoid on LSD and 'roids.

eggplant

(4,003 posts)
7. You would think that if the founding fathers had meant for us to travel by air...
Sat Aug 31, 2013, 12:47 PM
Aug 2013

...they would have written that in to the constitution. Along with bicycles.

 

RC

(25,592 posts)
9. And E-mails and the Internet.
Sat Aug 31, 2013, 01:15 PM
Aug 2013

If they were so smart, why didn't they anticipated this stuff? Or even people like Fat Tony?

Initech

(102,467 posts)
11. Since 9/11, the government has done everything they can to destroy air travel.
Sat Aug 31, 2013, 01:26 PM
Aug 2013

Anything that reverses these draconian policies, I'm all for it!

 

Spitfire of ATJ

(32,723 posts)
14. Thought they'd use the assumption of innocence....
Sat Aug 31, 2013, 01:41 PM
Aug 2013

Who am I kidding, we're ALL guilty these days.

indepat

(20,899 posts)
15. Such a ruling was warranted the day the no-fly list appeared in it present form. Where the eff
Sat Aug 31, 2013, 04:56 PM
Aug 2013

have the courts been?

indepat

(20,899 posts)
18. If no one has bothered or cared to file a lawsuit, then it must not have been a problem
Sat Aug 31, 2013, 07:21 PM
Aug 2013

as perceived.

eggplant

(4,003 posts)
19. I don't understand your point.
Sat Aug 31, 2013, 07:40 PM
Aug 2013

The courts can't simply act unilaterally. Someone who is on the no-fly list has to file suit. And they have to show that they are on the no-fly list in order to prove standing. It's an evil catch-22.

Net result -- these things take time to work through.

eggplant

(4,003 posts)
24. It was filed over three years ago.
Sun Sep 1, 2013, 01:40 AM
Sep 2013

Read the ACLU's press release:

https://www.aclu.org/national-security/federal-court-sides-aclu-no-fly-list-lawsuit

The national ACLU, along with its affiliates in Oregon, Southern California, Northern California, and New Mexico, filed the lawsuit in June 2010. It represents 13 U.S. citizens, including four military veterans, who are on the No Fly List and banned from flying to or from the U.S. or over American airspace. In July 2012, the 9th Circuit Appeals Court reversed the district court's dismissal of the case on jurisdictional grounds, and now the district court is considering the case on its merits.

snot

(10,782 posts)
23. THANK YOU.
Sun Sep 1, 2013, 01:02 AM
Sep 2013

At one point, I believe there was also recognition of a Constitutional right of travel. The law was never fully developed, I believe because t.p.t.b. did all they could to shut it down, recognizing its potential to liberate the serfs from their lands.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Judge Rules Americans Hav...