Anna Diggs Taylor
Encyclopedia
Anna Diggs Taylor is a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
. She graduated from Barnard College
in 1954 and Yale Law School
in 1957, and worked in the Office of Solicitor for the United States Department of Labor
. In 1979, she was appointed to the federal bench by President Jimmy Carter
, becoming the first black woman judge appointed to that Eastern District of Michigan.
She became Chief Judge of the court in 1997, and took senior status in 1998.
In 1960, she married U.S. Representative
Charles Diggs
; they divorced in 1971. She married S. Martin Taylor, a regent of the University of Michigan
, in 1976.
Anonymous reviews published in the Almanac of the Federal Judiciary highlight a positive reputation among lawyers who have appeared before her, as well as positive comments about her legal ability. However, the quality and comprehensiveness of her 2006 ACLU v. NSA ruling has been criticized by some legal experts.
. Her ruling, ACLU v. NSA
, held that the domestic wiretap
ping conducted by the National Security Agency
without court approval violates the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
and is unconstitutional
. She granted a permanent injunction
to halt it. The ruling, whose effect is stayed pending appellate proceedings, sparked a vigorous political and legal controversy
. In the same decision, she declined to rule on the legality of the alleged NSA call database
, on States Secrets grounds.
The watchdog organization Judicial Watch
has alleged that Taylor may have had a conflict of interest
in this case, because according to Judicial Watch
she is or was secretary
and trustee
for the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan (CFSEM), a group that made a recent grant of $45,000 over two years to the ACLU of Michigan, the winning plaintiff in ACLU v. NSA.
Taylor's ruling was subsequently overturned by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati. The Circuit Court ruled 2-1 that the people bringing the suit did not have standing. The Court's decision vacated the portion of Taylor's ruling concerning warrantless wiretaps.
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan is the Federal district court with jurisdiction over of the eastern portion of the state of Michigan. The Court is based in Detroit, with courthouses also located in Ann Arbor, Bay City, Flint, and Port Huron...
. She graduated from Barnard College
Barnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
in 1954 and Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
in 1957, and worked in the Office of Solicitor for the United States Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
. In 1979, she was appointed to the federal bench by President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, becoming the first black woman judge appointed to that Eastern District of Michigan.
She became Chief Judge of the court in 1997, and took senior status in 1998.
In 1960, she married U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Charles Diggs
Charles Diggs
Charles Coles Diggs, Jr. was an African-American politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. Diggs was an early member of the civil rights movement, having been present at the murder trial of Emmett Till and elected the first chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.Diggs resigned from the...
; they divorced in 1971. She married S. Martin Taylor, a regent of the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, in 1976.
Anonymous reviews published in the Almanac of the Federal Judiciary highlight a positive reputation among lawyers who have appeared before her, as well as positive comments about her legal ability. However, the quality and comprehensiveness of her 2006 ACLU v. NSA ruling has been criticized by some legal experts.
ACLU v. NSA
In 2006, Judge Taylor was the first U.S. judge to rule on the legal and constitutional issues of the NSA warrantless surveillance controversyNSA warrantless surveillance controversy
The NSA warrantless surveillance controversy concerns surveillance of persons within the United States during the collection of foreign intelligence by the U.S. National Security Agency as part of the war on terror...
. Her ruling, ACLU v. NSA
ACLU v. NSA
American Civil Liberties Union et al., v. National Security Agency / Central et al., 493 F.3d 644 , is a case decided July 6, 2007, in which the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held that the plaintiffs in the case did not have standing to bring the suit against the NSA, because...
, held that the domestic wiretap
Telephone tapping
Telephone tapping is the monitoring of telephone and Internet conversations by a third party, often by covert means. The wire tap received its name because, historically, the monitoring connection was an actual electrical tap on the telephone line...
ping conducted by the National Security Agency
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
without court approval violates the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978
America's Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 is an Act of Congress, , which prescribes procedures for the physical and electronic surveillance and collection of "foreign intelligence information" between "foreign powers" and "agents of foreign powers" America's Foreign Intelligence...
and is unconstitutional
Constitutionality
Constitutionality is the condition of acting in accordance with an applicable constitution. Acts that are not in accordance with the rules laid down in the constitution are deemed to be ultra vires.-See also:*ultra vires*Company law*Constitutional law...
. She granted a permanent injunction
Injunction
An injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a court order that requires a party to do or refrain from doing certain acts. A party that fails to comply with an injunction faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions...
to halt it. The ruling, whose effect is stayed pending appellate proceedings, sparked a vigorous political and legal controversy
Controversy
Controversy is a state of prolonged public dispute or debate, usually concerning a matter of opinion. The word was coined from the Latin controversia, as a composite of controversus – "turned in an opposite direction," from contra – "against" – and vertere – to turn, or versus , hence, "to turn...
. In the same decision, she declined to rule on the legality of the alleged NSA call database
NSA call database
The United States' National Security Agency maintains a database containing hundreds of billions of records of telephone calls made by U.S...
, on States Secrets grounds.
The watchdog organization Judicial Watch
Judicial Watch
Judicial Watch is an organization that describes itself as "a conservative, non-partisan American educational foundation that promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law." According to its mission statement, Judicial Watch "advocates high standards of...
has alleged that Taylor may have had a conflict of interest
Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other....
in this case, because according to Judicial Watch
Judicial Watch
Judicial Watch is an organization that describes itself as "a conservative, non-partisan American educational foundation that promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law." According to its mission statement, Judicial Watch "advocates high standards of...
she is or was secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
and trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
for the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan (CFSEM), a group that made a recent grant of $45,000 over two years to the ACLU of Michigan, the winning plaintiff in ACLU v. NSA.
Taylor's ruling was subsequently overturned by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati. The Circuit Court ruled 2-1 that the people bringing the suit did not have standing. The Court's decision vacated the portion of Taylor's ruling concerning warrantless wiretaps.
External links
- Anna Diggs Taylor Biography