You're going to need a warrant, Mr. Bush

"There are no hereditary kings in America and no powers not created by the Constitution." — U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor

The Bush administration's listening in on America's phone calls is like the old-time phone operator listening in on the party line. The court says, "That's a no-no."

Judge Halts NSA Snooping

By Ryan Singel, Wired News
11:30 AM Aug, 17, 2006

The Bush administration's warrantless eavesdropping on Amercians' telephone and internet communications is unconstitutional and must stop immediately, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

The ruling is the first court order barring the National Security Agency's ambitious domestic surveillance activities, which have spurred a string of lawsuits against the government and telecommunications companies around the country. It also marks a serious blow to the administration's sweeping interpretation of executive authority under the Constitution, a stance that's riled politicians and legal scholars alike.

Detroit U.S. District Court judge Anna Diggs Taylor, presiding over an ACLU challenge to the so-called "Terrorist Surveillance Program", rejected the government's assertion that the state secrets privilege prevents any review of the NSA surveillance.

The rest is here. The Reuters take is here. The Associated Press and National Public Radio version is here.