{{Short description|United States Article III court}}{{Distinguish|United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court}}{{Infobox U.S. federal court | court_type = tribunal | court_name = United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review | abbreviation = F.I.S.C.R. | courthouse = | location = [[Washington, D.C.]] | appeals_to = [[Supreme Court of the United States]] | appeals_from = [[United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court]] | established = October 25, 1978 | authority = Article III | created_by = [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act]]<br />{{UnitedStatesCode|50|1803}} | composition = [[Chief Justice of the United States|Chief Justice]] appointment | judges_assigned = 3 | term_length = 7 years | chief_title = [[Chief judge (United States)|Presiding Judge]] | chief = [[Stephen A. Higginson]] | official_site = {{URL|https://www.fisc.uscourts.gov/FISCR}} }}
The '''United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review''' ('''FISCR''') is a [[United States federal courts|U.S. federal court]] whose sole purpose is to review denials of applications for electronic surveillance warrants (called FISA warrants) by the [[United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court]] (or FISC). The FISCR was established by the [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act]] of 1978 (known as FISA for short) and consists of a panel of three judges. Like the FISC, the FISCR is not an [[adversary system|adversarial]] court; rather, the only party to the court is the federal government, although other parties may submit briefs as ''[[amicus curiae|amici curiae]]'' if they are made aware of the proceedings. Papers are filed and proceedings are held in secret. Records of the proceedings are kept [[Classified information|classified]], though copies of the proceedings with sensitive information redacted are very occasionally made public. The government may appeal decisions of the FISCR to the [[Supreme Court of the United States]], which hears appeals on a discretionary basis.
There is no provision for review or appeal of a grant of a warrant application, only of a denial. That is because in both the FISC and the FISCR, the government{{snd}}the party who seeks a warrant to conduct surveillance{{snd}}is the only party before the court, and it is unusual for anyone else to become aware of the warrant application in the first place.
The judges of the Court of Review are [[United States district court|district]] or [[United States courts of appeals|appellate]] federal judges, appointed by the [[Chief Justice of the United States]] for seven-year terms. Their terms are staggered so that there are at least two years between consecutive appointments. A judge may be appointed only once to either the FISCR or the FISC.
== Notable cases ==
=== ''In re Sealed Case'' === {{main|In re: Sealed Case No. 02-001}} The FISCR was called into session for the first time in 2002 in a case referred to as ''[[In re: Sealed Case No. 02-001]]''. The FISC had granted a FISA warrant to the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) but had placed restrictions on its use; specifically, the FBI was denied the ability to use evidence gathered under the warrant in criminal cases. FISCR allowed a coalition of civil liberties groups, including the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] and the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]], to file amicus briefs opposing the FBI's new surveillance programs. The FISCR held that the restrictions that the FISC had placed on the warrant violated both FISA and the [[USA PATRIOT Act]] and that there was no constitutional requirement for those restrictions.
=== ''In re Directives'' === {{src|In re Directives}} In August 2008, the FISCR affirmed the constitutionality of the [[Protect America Act of 2007]] in a heavily redacted opinion, ''In re Directives [redacted text] Pursuant to Section 105B of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act'', released on January 15, 2009.<ref>''[https://fas.org/irp/agency/doj/fisa/fiscr082208.pdf In re Directives [redacted text] Pursuant to Section 105B of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act]'', no. 08-01 (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review, Jan 15, 2009)</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/washington/16fisa.html?_r=1&hp | title=Court Affirms Wiretapping Without Warrants| work=New York Times, January 15, 2009| access-date=January 16, 2009 | first1=James | last1=Risen | first2=Eric | last2=Lichtblau | date=January 16, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123206893587088395?mod=googlenews_wsj | title=Court Backs U.S. Wiretapping | work=Wall Street Journal, January 16, 2009| access-date=January 16, 2009 | first=Evan | last=Perez | date=January 16, 2009}}</ref> ''In re Directives'' was only the second such public ruling since FISA's enactment.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/15/AR2009011502311.html?hpid=topnews | title=Intelligence Court Releases Ruling in Favor of Warrantless Wiretapping| work=Washington Post, January 15, 2009| access-date=January 16, 2009 | date=January 16, 2009}}</ref>
=== ''In re Certification of Questions of Law'' === In May 2018, the FISCR affirmed an [[en banc]] order holding that three public interest groups had "standing to seek disclosure of the classified portions of the opinions at issue." The three groups were the [[American Civil Liberties Union Foundation]], the [[American Civil Liberties Union of the Nation's Capital]], and the Media Freedom and Information Access Clinic at [[Yale University]]. The government had argued that none of the groups had a legal right to compel disclosure of FISC opinions. The FISCR disagreed, holding: "The flaw in the government's position is that it attacks the merits of the movants' claim rather than whether the claim is judicially cognizable. In other words, the government confuses the question of whether the movants have a First Amendment right of access to FISC opinions with the question of whether they have a right merely to assert that claim. Courts have repeatedly pointed out that there is a distinction between whether the plaintiff has shown injury for purposes of standing and whether the plaintiff can succeed on the merits."<ref>''[https://www.fisc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/FISCR%2018-01%20Opinion%20March%2016%202018.pdf In re Certification of Questions of Law]'', no. 18-01 (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review, Mar 16, 2018)</ref>
== Composition == ''Note that the start dates of service for some judges conflict among sources.''<ref name="Current Membership - Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review">{{cite web |title=Current Membership - Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review |url=https://www.fisc.uscourts.gov/fiscr_membership}}</ref><ref name="NYT May13"> *{{cite web |url=http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/727664-fisc-fiscr-members-1978-2013.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731140111/http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/727664-fisc-fiscr-members-1978-2013.html |title=Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court – Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review: Current and Past Members |last=Savage |first=Charles |date=May 2013 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=July 26, 2013 |archive-date=July 31, 2013 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} *{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/us/politics/robertss-picks-reshaping-secret-surveillance-court.html?hp |title=Roberts's Picks Reshaping Secret Surveillance Court |last=Savage |first=Charlie |date=July 25, 2013 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=July 26, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court 2013 Membership |url=https://irp.fas.org/agency/doj/fisa/court2013.html |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=irp.fas.org}}</ref><ref name="aftergood-response-lags">{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/blogs/secrecy/2013/09/response-lags/|title = Policy Response to Intelligence Revelations Lags}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=FISC FISCR Judges Revised May 29 2020 200608 |url=https://www.fisc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/FISC%20FISCR%20Judges%20Revised%20May%2029%202020%20200608.pdf |access-date=February 23, 2024 |website=www.fisc.uscourts.govF}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/about/judges/roney.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923115648/http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/about/judges/roney.php |title=Judge Paul H. Roney |date=n.d. |publisher=[[United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit|Eleventh Circuit]] |access-date=June 14, 2013 |archive-date=September 23, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=FISC FISCR Judges August 2020 200824 |url=https://www.fisc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/FISC%20FISCR%20Judges%20August%202020%20200824.docx.pdf |access-date=February 23, 2024 |website=www.fisc.uscourts.gov}}</ref>
=== Current membership === {|class="wikitable sortable" !Name !Court !Start !End !Presiding Start !Presiding End !FISCR Appointer<br>{{small|(Chief Justice)}} !Original Appointer<br>{{small|(President)}} |- |{{sortname|Stephen|Higginson|Stephen A. Higginson}} |data-sort-value="#5" |[[United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit|5th Cir.]] |{{dts|2021|2|25}} |''{{dts|2027|5|18}}'' |{{dts|2023|8|16}} |present |{{sortname|John|Roberts}} |{{sortname|Barack|Obama}} |- |{{sortname|Timothy|Tymkovich}} |data-sort-value="#10" |[[United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit|10th Cir.]] |{{dts|2023|11|01}} |''{{dts|2030|5|18}}'' | – | – |{{sortname|John|Roberts}} |{{sortname|George W.|Bush}} |- |{{sortname|Lisa|Godbey Wood|Lisa Godbey Wood}} |[[United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia|S.D. Ga.]] |{{dts|2023|11|01}} |''{{dts|2030|5|18}}'' | – | – |{{sortname|John|Roberts}} |{{sortname|George W.|Bush}} |}
=== Former members === {|class="wikitable sortable" !Name !Court !Start !End !Presiding Start !Presiding End !FISCR Appointer<br>{{nowrap|{{small|(Chief Justice)}}}} !Original Appointer<br>{{small|(President)}} |- |{{sortname|Morris|Arnold|Morris S. Arnold}} |data-sort-value=#8 |[[United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit|8th Cir.]] |{{dts|2008|5|19}} |{{dts|2013|8|31}} |{{dts|2012|9|10}} |{{dts|2013|8|31}} |{{sortname|John|Roberts}} |{{sortname|George H. W.|Bush}} |- |{{sortname|Bobby|Baldock}} |data-sort-value=#10 |[[United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit|10th Cir.]] |{{dts|1992|6|17}} |{{dts|1998|5|18}} | – | – |{{sortname|William|Rehnquist}} |{{sortname|Ronald|Reagan}} |- |{{sortname|James|Barrett|James Emmett Barrett}} |data-sort-value=#10 |[[United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit|10th Cir.]] |{{dts|1979|5|19}} |{{dts|1984|5|18}} | – | – |{{sortname|Warren|Burger}} |{{sortname|Richard|Nixon}} |- |{{sortname|William|Bryson|William Curtis Bryson}} |data-sort-value=#Federal |[[United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit|Fed. Cir.]] |{{dts|2011|5|19}} |{{dts|2018|5|18}} |{{dts|2013|9|10}} |{{dts|2018|5|18}} |{{sortname|John|Roberts}} |{{sortname|Bill|Clinton}} |- |{{sortname|José|Cabranes|José A. Cabranes}} |data-sort-value=#2 |[[United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit|2nd Cir.]] |{{dts|2013|8|9}} |{{dts|2020|5|18}} |{{dts|2018|5|19}} |{{dts|2020|5|18}} |{{sortname|John|Roberts}} |{{sortname|Bill|Clinton}} |- |{{sortname|John|Field|John A. Field Jr.}} |data-sort-value=#4 |[[United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit|4th Cir.]] |{{dts|1982|5|19}} |{{dts|1989|5|18}} | – | – |{{sortname|Warren|Burger}} |{{sortname|Richard|Nixon}} |- |{{sortname|Ralph|Guy|Ralph B. Guy Jr.}} |data-sort-value=#6 |[[United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit|6th Cir.]] |{{dts|1998|10|8}} |{{dts|2005|5|18}} |{{dts|2001|5|19}} |{{dts|2005|5|18}} |{{sortname|William|Rehnquist}} |{{sortname|Ronald|Reagan}} |- |{{sortname|Leon|Higginbotham|A. Leon Higginbotham Jr.}} |data-sort-value=#3 |[[United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit|3rd Cir.]] |{{dts|1979|5|19}} |{{dts|1986|5|18}} |{{dts|1979|5|19}} |{{dts|1986|5|18}} |{{sortname|Warren|Burger}} |{{sortname|Jimmy|Carter}} |- |{{sortname|Edward|Leavy}} |data-sort-value=#9 |[[United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit|9th Cir.]] |{{dts|2001|9|25}} |{{dts|2008|5|18}} |{{dts|2005|5|19}} |{{dts|2008|5|18}} |{{sortname|William|Rehnquist}} |{{sortname|Ronald|Reagan}} |- |{{sortname|George|MacKinnon}} |data-sort-value=#D.C. |[[United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit|D.C. Cir.]] |{{dts|1979|5|19}} |{{dts|1982|5|18}} | – | – |{{sortname|Warren|Burger}} |{{sortname|Richard|Nixon}} |- |{{sortname|Robert|Miller|Robert Lowell Miller Jr.}} |data-sort-value="Indiana, Northern" |{{nowrap|[[United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana|N.D. Ind.]]}} |{{dts|2020|7|8}} |{{dts|2023|9|15}} | – | – |{{sortname|John|Roberts}} |{{sortname|Ronald|Reagan}} |- |{{sortname|Edward|Northrop|Edward Skottowe Northrop}} |data-sort-value=Maryland |[[United States District Court for the District of Maryland|D. Md.]] |{{dts|1985|1|11}} |{{dts|1992|1|10}} | – | – |{{sortname|Warren|Burger}} |{{sortname|John F.|Kennedy}} |- |{{sortname|Paul|Roney|Paul Hitch Roney}} |data-sort-value=#12 |[[United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit|11th Cir.]] |{{dts|1994|9|13}} |{{dts|2001|5|18}} |{{dts|1994|9|13}} |{{dts|2001|5|18}} |{{sortname|William|Rehnquist}} |{{sortname|Richard|Nixon}} |- |{{sortname|Collins|Seitz|Collins J. Seitz}} |data-sort-value=#3 |[[United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit|3rd Cir.]] |{{dts|1987|3|19}} |{{dts|1994|3|18}} |{{dts|1987|3|19}} |{{dts|1994|3|18}} |{{sortname|William|Rehnquist}} |{{sortname|Lyndon|Johnson}} |- |{{sortname|Bruce|Selya|Bruce M. Selya}} |data-sort-value=#1 |[[United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit|1st Cir.]] |{{dts|2005|10|8}} |{{dts|2012|5|18}} |{{dts|2008|5|19}} |{{dts|2012|5|18}} |{{sortname|John|Roberts}} |{{sortname|Ronald|Reagan}} |- |{{sortname|David|Sentelle}} |data-sort-value="#D.C."|[[United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit|D.C. Cir.]] |{{dts|2018|5|19}} |{{dts|2023|9|15}} |{{dts|2020|5|19}} |{{dts|2023|9|15}} |{{sortname|John|Roberts}} |{{sortname|Ronald|Reagan}} |- |{{sortname|Laurence|Silberman}} |data-sort-value=#D.C. |[[United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit|D.C. Cir.]] |{{dts|1996|6|18}} |{{dts|2003|5|18}} | – | – |{{sortname|William|Rehnquist}} |{{sortname|Ronald|Reagan}} |- |{{nowrap|{{sortname|Richard|Tallman|Richard C. Tallman}}}} |data-sort-value=#9 |[[United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit|9th Cir.]] |{{dts|2014|1|27}} |{{dts|2021|1|26}} | – | – |{{sortname|John|Roberts}} |{{sortname|Bill|Clinton}} |- |{{sortname|Robert|Warren|Robert W. Warren}} |data-sort-value="Wisconsin, Eastern" |{{nowrap|[[United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin|E.D. Wis.]]}} |{{dts|1989|10|30}} |{{dts|1996|5|18}} | – | – |{{sortname|William|Rehnquist}} |{{sortname|Richard|Nixon}} |- |{{sortname|Ralph|Winter|Ralph K. Winter Jr.}} |data-sort-value=#2 |[[United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit|2nd Cir.]] |{{dts|2003|11|14}} |{{dts|2010|5|18}} | – | – |{{sortname|John|Roberts}} |{{sortname|Ronald|Reagan}} |}
==Seat succession== {{col-begin}} {{col-break}} {{start U.S. judge succession |seat title = Presiding Judge}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[A. Leon Higginbotham Jr.|Higginbotham]] |term = 1979–1986}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[Collins J. Seitz|Seitz]] |term = 1987–1994}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[Paul Hitch Roney|Roney]] |term = 1994–2001}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[Ralph B. Guy Jr.|Guy]] |term = 2001–2005}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[Edward Leavy|Leavy]] |term = 2005–2008}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[Bruce M. Selya|Selya]] |term = 2008–2012}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[Morris S. Arnold|Arnold]] |term = 2012–2013}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[William Curtis Bryson|Bryson]] |term = 2013–2018}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[José A. Cabranes|Cabranes]] |term = 2018–2020}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[David B. Sentelle|Sentelle]] |term = {{nowrap|2020–2023}}}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = '''[[Stephen A. Higginson|Higginson]]''' |term = {{nowrap|2023–present}}}} {{end U.S. judge succession}} {{col-break}} {{start U.S. judge succession |seat title = Seat 1}} {{U.S. judge succession note |text = Established on October 25, 1978<br>by the [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act]]}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[James E. Barrett|Barrett]] |term = 1979–1984}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[Edward Skottowe Northrop|Northrop]] |term = 1984–1992}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[Bobby Baldock|Baldock]] |term = 1992–1998}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[Ralph B. Guy Jr.|Guy]] |term = 1998–2005}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[Bruce M. Selya|Selya]] |term = 2005–2012}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[José A. Cabranes|Cabranes]] |term = 2013–2020}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[Robert Lowell Miller Jr.|Miller]] |term = 2020–2023}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = '''[[Lisa Godbey Wood|Wood]]''' |term = 2023–present}} {{end U.S. judge succession}} {{col-break}} {{start U.S. judge succession |seat title = Seat 2}} {{U.S. judge succession note |text = Established on October 25, 1978<br>by the [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act]]}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[A. Leon Higginbotham Jr.|Higginbotham]] |term = 1979–1986}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[Collins J. Seitz|Seitz]] |term = 1987–1994}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[Paul Hitch Roney|Roney]] |term = 1994–2001}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[Edward Leavy|Leavy]] |term = 2001–2008}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[Morris S. Arnold|Arnold]] |term = 2008–2013}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[Richard C. Tallman|Tallman]] |term = 2014–2021}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = '''[[Stephen A. Higginson|Higginson]]''' |term = 2021–present}} {{end U.S. judge succession}} {{col-break}} {{start U.S. judge succession |seat title = Seat 3}} {{U.S. judge succession note |text = Established on October 25, 1978<br>by the [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act]]}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[George MacKinnon|MacKinnon]] |term = 1979–1982}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[John A. Field Jr.|Field]] |term = 1982–1989}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[Robert W. Warren|Warren]] |term = 1989–1996}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[Laurence Silberman|Silberman]] |term = 1996–2003}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[Ralph K. Winter Jr.|Winter]] |term = 2003–2010}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[William Curtis Bryson|Bryson]] |term = 2011–2018}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = [[David B. Sentelle|Sentelle]] |term = 2018–2023}} {{U.S. judge succession row |name = '''[[Timothy Tymkovich|Tymkovich]]''' |term = 2023–present}} {{end U.S. judge succession}} {{col-end}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== Further reading == * {{cite web| url=https://fas.org/irp/agency/doj/fisa/court2014.html| title=Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and Court of Review 2014 Membership| work=from the Federation of American Scientists| access-date=February 7, 2014}} * {{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/washington/16fisa.html?_r=1&hp | title=Court Affirms Wiretapping Without Warrants| work=New York Times, January 15, 2009| access-date=January 16, 2009 | first1=James | last1=Risen | first2=Eric | last2=Lichtblau | date=January 16, 2009}} * {{cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123206893587088395?mod=googlenews_wsj | title=Court Backs U.S. Wiretapping | work=Wall Street Journal, January 16, 2009| access-date=January 16, 2009 | first=Evan | last=Perez | date=January 16, 2009}} * {{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/15/AR2009011502311.html?hpid=topnews | title=Intelligence Court Releases Ruling in Favor of Warrantless Wiretapping| work=Washington Post, January 15, 2009| access-date=January 16, 2009 | date=January 16, 2009}} * {{cite web| url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g9Q7M6scz4PEW8SuEo_bpOer6ZAQD95NRD1G0 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090117180553/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g9Q7M6scz4PEW8SuEo_bpOer6ZAQD95NRD1G0 | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 17, 2009 | title=Court ruling endorses Bush surveillance policy| work=Associated Press, January 15, 2009| access-date=January 16, 2009}} * {{cite news| url=http://www.floridabar.org/DIVCOM/JN/JNNews01.nsf/Articles/634E37BCEF2D28B485256B11006BFF2E | title=Nixon era judges celebrate 30 years on the bench| work=The Florida Bar News, September 1, 2000| access-date=September 30, 2012 | first1=Jan | last1=Pudlow | date=September 1, 2000}}
== External links == * [https://fas.org/irp/agency/doj/fisa/fiscr-rules.pdf Rules of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review, via Federation of American Scientists] * [https://fas.org/irp/agency/doj/fisa/082102appeal.html The Department of Justice brief on Case No. 02-001, redacted version, via Federation of American Scientists] * [https://fas.org/irp/agency/doj/fisa/hrng090902.htm FISCOR Hearing transcript on 02-001, via Federation of American Scientists] * [http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/terrorism/fisa111802opn.pdf The Court of Review's Decision on "In re: Sealed Case No. 02-001", from Findlaw]
{{FISA Review Court}}
[[Category:Federal judiciary of the United States|Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review]] [[Category:United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court|Review]]