The Evolution of the State Secret Privilege in the United States Legal System: Dissecting the Consequences on Government Accountability, Transparency, and People's Individual Rights
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.338Keywords:
State Secret Privilege, Legal analysis, government, United States vs. ReynoldsAbstract
This paper analyzes the implications and historical development of the State Secret Privilege (SSP) in the United States legal system. Through a comprehensive examination of the context and use of privilege in five landmark cases, this study focuses on how using the SSP affects national security, government transparency and accountability, and individual rights by facilitating government dishonesty. Furthermore, this study sheds light on several victims' stories whose suffering was dismissed under the SSP. The central argument of this study is that the SSP has been abused due to its broad application, which has resulted in adverse effects on individuals. Ultimately, this paper illustrates a need for a fair and balanced use of the SSP to uphold democracy and protect constitutional rights.
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