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Author Siegel, Barry, 1949-

Title Claim of privilege : a mysterious plane crash, a landmark Supreme Court case, and the rise of state secrets / Barry Siegel.

Publication Info. New York : Harper, [2008]
©2008

Copies

Location Call No. Status
 Bloomfield at the Atrium  342.7306 SIE    Check Shelf
 New Britain, Main Library - Non Fiction  342.7306 SI16    Check Shelf
 Windsor, Main Library - Adult Department  342.7306 SI    Check Shelf
Edition First edition.
Description xi, 384 pages ; 24 cm
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages [315]-363) and index.
Contents Pt. 1. CHALLENGES (June 1946-June 1949) : Banshee days -- B-29 bombers -- Delays and progress -- Final exam -- The flight -- Aftermath -- Response -- Folsom's letter -- Special investigation -- Pt. II. COURTROOMS (December 1948-December 1953) : Thoughts of redress -- Charles Biddle -- The complaint -- Judge Kirkpatrick -- A claim of privilege -- The hearing -- Full value -- Judge Maris -- The Vinson Court -- A nice opinion -- Pt. III. CONSEQUENCES (July 1953-October 2002) : Judy -- The progeny of Reynolds -- What to search for -- How to get started -- Waycross -- Pt. IV. REVELATIONS (July 2002-September 2007) : On the side of right -- Routes of relief -- A creative try -- Other types of comfort -- The Albert Maris courtroom -- The finality of judgment -- Just one more mission.
Summary In 1948, three civilian engineers were killed in an Air Force plane crash while testing secret navigational equipment. The widows filed suit, but the Air Force, at the dawn of the Cold War, refused to hand over accident reports and witness statements, claiming the documents contained classified information that would threaten national security. In 1953 the Supreme Court sided with the Air Force in United States v. Reynolds, formally recognizing the "state secrets" privilege, a legal precedent since used to conceal conduct, withhold documents, block troublesome litigation, and, most recently, detain terror suspects without due process. A half century later, the government revealed the "top-secret" information--there were no national security secrets, but rather a shocking chronicle of negligence. This book tells the story of this shameful incident, and the dangerous consequences of this historic cover-up: the violation of civil liberties and the abuse of constitutional protections.
Subject Reynolds, Patricia J. -- Trials, litigation, etc.
United States -- Trials, litigation, etc.
Official secrets -- United States.
National security -- Law and legislation -- United States.
Executive privilege (Government information) -- United States.
Airplanes, Military -- Accidents -- Investigation -- United States.
ISBN 9780060777029: $25.95
0060777028
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