FISA and Foreign Intelligence: Does Wartime Surveillance Burden Freedom?

Orlando Lawyers Chapter

Speaker:

• Todd Gaziano, The Heritage Foundation

Speaker:

• Todd Gaziano, The Heritage Foundation

The debate over the Administration's foreign intelligence programs present fastinating and complex issues involving the separation of powers and civil liberties principles. Congress has broad authority in wartime, including the protection of citizens' and combattants' civil liberties, but it may not dictate military tactics. Is the collection of traditional military intellegence beyond Congress's direct control? What are the limits of the courts' authrority to mediate disputes between civil liberties watchdogs and the Administration over foreign intelligence gathering? Does it matter if Congress wants the courts to fulfil its own oversight responsibility, or does that compound one separation of powers violation with another? And finally, what should the average citizen conclude? Are our liberties at risk unless FISA is reformed?

* Todd Gaziano is a Senior Fellow in Legal Studies and Director of the Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation, where he specializes in constitutional issues, Supreme Court developments, and legal reform. Mr. Gaziano has authored many articles and op-eds on constitutional and legal issues, has testified before Congress on a variety of topics, and also is a frequent legal commentator for network and cable news programs. (Mr. Gaziano has appeared on over 100 television broadcasts.) Mr. Gaziano also serves on the Executive Committee of the Federalist Society's Practice Group on Federalism and Separation of Powers.

Prior to joining The Heritage Foundation, Mr. Gaziano served in all three branches of the federal government. He served in the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) in the Reagan, Bush, and Clinton Administrations, which is particularly relevant to the topic above. OLC provides legal advice to the President and the Attorney General, especially with regard to constitutional issues and presidential powers, drafts the Attorney General's Opinions, and provides legal advice and opinions to the heads of other executive branch agencies.

R.S.V.P. by November 6th to Robert Sirianni at: Robert@BrownstoneLaw.com or 407-388-1900.

This event is $15.00 for non-members and $10.00 for members of the Federalist Society