A federal judge has declared unconstitutional a portion of the USA Patriot
Act that bars giving expert advice or assistance to groups designated
foreign terrorist organizations.

The ruling marks the first court decision to declare a part of the
post-Sept. 11 anti-terrorism statute unconstitutional, said David Cole, a
Georgetown University law professor who argued the case on behalf of the
Humanitarian Law Project.

In a ruling handed down late Friday and made available Monday, U.S. District
Judge Audrey Collins said the ban on providing "expert advice or assistance"
is impermissibly vague, in violation of the First and Fifth Amendments.

John Tyler, the Justice Department attorney who argued the case, had no
comment and referred calls to the department press office in Washington. A
message left there was not immediately returned.

The case before the court involved five groups and two U.S. citizens seeking
to provide support for lawful, nonviolent activities on behalf of Kurdish
refugees in Turkey.

The Humanitarian Law Project, which brought the lawsuit, said the plaintiffs
were threatened with 15 years in prison if they advised groups on seeking a
peaceful resolution of the Kurds' campaign for self-determination in Turkey.

The judge's ruling said the law, as written, does not differentiate between
impermissible advice on violence and encouraging the use of peaceful,
nonviolent means to achieve goals.

"The USA Patriot Act places no limitation on the type of expert advice and
assistance which is prohibited and instead bans the provision of all expert
advice and assistance regardless of its nature," the judge said.

Cole declared the ruling "a victory for everyone who believes the war on
terrorism ought to be fought consistent with constitutional principles."

A federal judge has declared unconstitutional a portion of the USA Patriot
Act that bars giving expert advice or assistance to groups designated
foreign terrorist organizations.

The ruling marks the first court decision to declare a part of the
post-Sept. 11 anti-terrorism statute unconstitutional, said David Cole, a
Georgetown University law professor who argued the case on behalf of the
Humanitarian Law Project.

In a ruling handed down late Friday and made available Monday, U.S.
District
Judge Audrey Collins said the ban on providing "expert advice or
assistance"
is impermissibly vague, in violation of the First and Fifth Amendments.

John Tyler, the Justice Department attorney who argued the case, had no
comment and referred calls to the department press office in Washington. A
message left there was not immediately returned.

The case before the court involved five groups and two U.S. citizens
seeking
to provide support for lawful, nonviolent activities on behalf of Kurdish
refugees in Turkey.

The Humanitarian Law Project, which brought the lawsuit, said the
plaintiffs
were threatened with 15 years in prison if they advised groups on seeking
a
peaceful resolution of the Kurds' campaign for self-determination in
Turkey.

The judge's ruling said the law, as written, does not differentiate
between
impermissible advice on violence and encouraging the use of peaceful,
nonviolent means to achieve goals.

"The USA Patriot Act places no limitation on the type of expert advice and
assistance which is prohibited and instead bans the provision of all
expert
advice and assistance regardless of its nature," the judge said.

Cole declared the ruling "a victory for everyone who believes the war on
terrorism ought to be fought consistent with constitutional principles."