Preprint / Version 1

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

##article.authors##

  • Jordyn Banks San Clemente High School

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.338

Keywords:

State Secret Privilege, Legal analysis, government, United States vs. Reynolds

Abstract

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.

References

ACLU. “Background on the State Secrets Privilege.” American Civil Liberties Union, 31 Jan. 2007, www.aclu.org/documents/background-state-secrets-privilege.

ACLU. "El-Masri v. Tenet: Background on the State Secrets Privilege." American Civil Liberties Union, Nov. 2006, www.aclu.org/other/el-masri-v-tenet-background-state-secrets-privilege.

ACLU. "FBI v. Fazaga." American Civil Liberties Union, May 18, 2023, www.aclu.org/cases/fbi-v-fazaga.

ACLU. “Mohamed et al. v Jeppesen Dataplan, Inc..” American Civil Liberties Union, 15 Nov. 2011, www.aclu.org/cases/mohamed-et-al-v-jeppesen-dataplan-inc.

ACLU. "Statement: Khaled El-Masri." American Civil Liberties Union, December 6, 2005, www.aclu.org/other/statement-khaled-el-masri?redirect=human-rights_national-security%2Fstatement-khaled-el-masri.

ACLU. "Supreme Court Denies Request to Hear Lawsuit by Victims of CIA Extraordinary Rendition Program." American Civil Liberties Union, May 15, 2011, www.aclu.org/press-releases/supreme-court-denies-request-hear-lawsuit-victims-cia-extraordinary-rendition-program.

Bohlen, Francis H. "Incomplete Privilege to Inflict Intentional Invasions of Interests of Property and Personality." Harvard Law Review, vol. 39, no. 3, 1926, p. 307, https://doi.org/10.2307/1329309.

Brief of Amicus Curiae Public Citizen in Support of Respondents, United States of America v. ZAYN AL-ABIDIN MUHAMMAD HUSAYN, A.K.A. ABU ZUBAYDAH, et al., 20 U.S. 827 (2021).

Chesney, Robert. “State Secrets and the Limits of National Security Litigation.” SSRN, 22 Nov. 2006, deliverypdf.ssrn.com/delivery.php?ID=060100116086007016115083083100068076000050041076022024096098093109099085118079069127048021127015040030058023022025009093121098126094082050028021029007006117015102019029080067102004101113081127121107071106007018111123103015099104000085093094021026024&EXT=pdf&INDEX=TRUE.

Congressional Research Service. FBI v. Fazaga: Supreme Court Examines Interplay of State Secrets ..., crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/LSB/LSB10683.

Dakich, Alexandra B. “The State Secrets Privilege: An Institutional Process Approach.” Northeastern.Edu, scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1527&context=nulr.

“Fazaga v. FBI - 916 f.3d 1202 (9th Cir. 2019).” LexisNexis Case Brief, www.lexisnexis.com/community/casebrief/p/casebrief-fazaga-v-fbi.

FindLaw Staff. “Al Haramain Islamic Foundation Inc v. Bush (2007) | Findlaw.” Find Law, caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-9th-circuit/1144343.html.

Frost, Amanda. "Reforming the State Secrets Privilege - American University." American University Washington College of Law, 2009, digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2390&context=facsch_lawrev.

Garvey, Todd, and Edward C. Liu. “The State Secrets Privilege: Preventing the Disclosure of Sensitive ...” Congressional Research Service, 16 Aug. 2011, sgp.fas.org/crs/secrecy/R41741.pdf.

Geaghan-Breiner, Beatrix. “Rethinking the State Secrets Privilege after the War on Terror.” Columbia Undergraduate Law Review, 20 June 2022, www.culawreview.org/journal/rethinking-the-state-secrets-privilege-after-the-war-on-terror.

Letter from Attorney General Mukasey. “Views of the Department of Justice on the ‘State Secret Privilege’ .” Federation of American Scientists, 31 Mar. 2008, sgp.fas.org/jud/statesec/ag033108.pdf.

“Magna Carta - UK Parliament.” UK Parliament, www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/originsofparliament/birthofparliament/overview/magnacarta/.

Modernizing the Government’s Classification System: Hearings before the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs. 10 (2023) (testimony of Elizabeth Goitein)

Rafei, Leila. "How the FBI Spied on Orange County Muslims and Attempted to Get Away with It." American Civil Liberties Union, February 24, 2023, www.aclu.org/news/national-security/how-the-fbi-spied-on-orange-county-muslims-and-attempted-to-get-away-with-it.

Reuters. “Rice Admits U.S. Erred in Deportation .” The New York Times, 25 Oct. 2007, www.nytimes.com/2007/10/25/washington/25rice.html.

Setty, Sudha. "Litigating Secrets: Comparative Perspectives on the State Secrets Privilege." Brooklyn Journal of International Law, 2009, brooklynworks.brooklaw.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1983&context=bjil.

Simpson, Emily. “Nothing Is so Oppressive as a Secret ... - Temple Law Review.” Temple Law Review, 28 Mar. 2008, www.templelawreview.org/lawreview/assets/uploads/2011/07/simpson.pdf.

"The State Government Secrets Privilege Abuse Of." Center for Constitutional Rights, ccrjustice.org/files/factsheet_stateSecrets.pdf.

"The State Secrets Privilege." Cornell Law School, www.law.cornell.edu/constitution-conan/article-2/section-3/the-state-secrets-privilege.

"United States vs. Reynolds ." Oyez, www.oyez.org/cases/1940-1955/345us1.

"United States v. Reynolds, 345 U.S. 1 (1953)." Justia Law, supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/345/1/.

“What is the Definition of Common Law?” What Is the Definition of Common Law? | Thomson Reuters, 15 Nov. 2022, legal.thomsonreuters.com/en/insights/articles/what-is-common-law.

Downloads

Posted

2023-08-19

Categories