PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

The Attorney General can ask a federal court to throw out a civil lawsuit right away if the AG says the person being sued helped an intelligence agency under one of these situations: under a court order created by section 1803(a); under a written certification in title 18 at 2511(2)(a)(ii)(B) or 2709(b); under a directive in section 1802(a)(4), 1805b(e) (as added by the Protect America Act of 2007), or 1881a(i); when an electronic communication provider’s alleged help was part of President-authorized communications collection from September 11, 2001, to January 17, 2007, aimed at stopping terrorist attacks and tied to written requests showing presidential authorization and lawfulness; or when the person did not give the help claimed. A court must accept the AG’s certification unless it finds there is not substantial evidence for it. The judge may look at the orders, certifications, requests, or directives. If the AG says public disclosure would harm national security under section 1746 of title 28, the judge will review those materials in private and limit what is made public. Parties may submit and argue about relevant documents unless that would reveal classified information, which the judge will handle in private and keep sealed. The AG’s powers here must be done by the AG (or Acting AG) or the Deputy AG. Appeals go to the courts of appeals. State cases can be moved to federal court under section 1441. Other legal defenses are not affected. This rule applies to cases pending on or filed after July 10, 2008.

Title 50, §1885a

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(a)Requirement for certification

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a civil action may not lie or be maintained in a Federal or State court against any person for providing assistance to an element of the intelligence community, and shall be promptly dismissed, if the Attorney General certifies to the district court of the United States in which such action is pending that—

(1)any assistance by that person was provided pursuant to an order of the court established under section 1803(a) of this title directing such assistance;

(2)any assistance by that person was provided pursuant to a certification in writing under section 2511(2)(a)(ii)(B) or 2709(b) of title 18;

(3)any assistance by that person was provided pursuant to a directive under section 1802(a)(4), 1805b(e), as added by section 2 of the Protect America Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–55), or 1881a(i) of this title directing such assistance;

(4)in the case of a covered civil action, the assistance alleged to have been provided by the electronic communication service provider was—

(A)in connection with an intelligence activity involving communications that was—

(i)authorized by the President during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on January 17, 2007; and

(ii)designed to detect or prevent a terrorist attack, or activities in preparation for a terrorist attack, against the United States; and

(B)the subject of a written request or directive, or a series of written requests or directives, from the Attorney General or the head of an element of the intelligence community (or the deputy of such person) to the electronic communication service provider indicating that the activity was—

(i)authorized by the President; and

(ii)determined to be lawful; or

(5)the person did not provide the alleged assistance.

(b)Judicial review

(1)Review of certifications

A certification under subsection (a) shall be given effect unless the court finds that such certification is not supported by substantial evidence provided to the court pursuant to this section.

(2)Supplemental materials

In its review of a certification under subsection (a), the court may examine the court order, certification, written request, or directive described in subsection (a) and any relevant court order, certification, written request, or directive submitted pursuant to subsection (d).

(c)Limitations on disclosure

If the Attorney General files a declaration under section 1746 of title 28 that disclosure of a certification made pursuant to subsection (a) or the supplemental materials provided pursuant to subsection (b) or (d) would harm the national security of the United States, the court shall—

(1)review such certification and the supplemental materials in camera and ex parte; and

(2)limit any public disclosure concerning such certification and the supplemental materials, including any public order following such in camera and ex parte review, to a statement as to whether the case is dismissed and a description of the legal standards that govern the order, without disclosing the paragraph of subsection (a) that is the basis for the certification.

(d)Role of the parties

Any plaintiff or defendant in a civil action may submit any relevant court order, certification, written request, or directive to the district court referred to in subsection (a) for review and shall be permitted to participate in the briefing or argument of any legal issue in a judicial proceeding conducted pursuant to this section, but only to the extent that such participation does not require the disclosure of classified information to such party. To the extent that classified information is relevant to the proceeding or would be revealed in the determination of an issue, the court shall review such information in camera and ex parte, and shall issue any part of the court’s written order that would reveal classified information in camera and ex parte and maintain such part under seal.

(e)Nondelegation

The authority and duties of the Attorney General under this section shall be performed by the Attorney General (or Acting Attorney General) or the Deputy Attorney General.

(f)Appeal

The courts of appeals shall have jurisdiction of appeals from interlocutory orders of the district courts of the United States granting or denying a motion to dismiss or for summary judgment under this section.

(g)Removal

A civil action against a person for providing assistance to an element of the intelligence community that is brought in a State court shall be deemed to arise under the Constitution and laws of the United States and shall be removable under section 1441 of title 28.

(h)Relationship to other laws

Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit any otherwise available immunity, privilege, or defense under any other provision of law.

(i)Applicability

This section shall apply to a civil action pending on or filed after July 10, 2008.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 1805b of this title, referred to in subsec. (a)(3), was repealed by Pub. L. 110–261, title IV, § 403(a)(1)(A), July 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 2473.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 115–118, which directed substitution of “section 1881a(i) of this title” for “section 1881a(h) of this title”, was executed by substituting “1881a(i) of this title” for “1881a(h) of this title” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

§1885a Procedures for Implementing Statutory Defenses