US judge: NSA programme is likely unconstitutional

Even after the appeals court rules,the Supreme Court will probably have the last word.

This is the opening salvo in a very long story,but its important symbolically in dispelling the invincibility of the metadata programme, said Stephen Vladeck,a national security law expert at the American University law school.

The collection programme was disclosed by former NSA systems analyst Edward Snowden.

Vladeck said 15 judges on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court have examined Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act,the provision of law under which the data collection takes place,without finding constitutional problems. Theres a disconnect between the 15 judges on the FISA court who seem to think its a no-brainer that Section 215 is constitutional,and Judge Leon,who seems to think otherwise.