Talk:All Writs Act

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The All Writs Act is becoming more important[edit]

According to the ACLU, law enforcement is using the All Writs Act to force phone companies to unlock cell phones. See Law Enforcement is Using a 226-Year-Old Law to Force Tech Companies to Unlock Mobile Phones. A summary of the act in its current form would definitely help people understand what's going on. Page Notes (talk) 23:49, 13 December 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Broadly-written laws show their enduring applicability to fit modern advances and situations. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Sseab (talk • contribs) 14:04, 20 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Applications vs. "Uses"[edit]

Wondering if "uses" is a more familiar term for readers in this context than "applications". Anyone have thoughts on this?

Response: IANAL but fairly familiar with legal terminology as a certified court interpreter. I agree that "Uses" in this context means something like what we use the word "applications" for (in this kind of context). But I'd be hesitant to explain or amplify on a legal "term of art" unless an authoritative source can be cited or, better yet, quoted word for word.Jgperez (talk) 04:17, 18 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

That's a good point about not redefining legal terms, @Jgperez. I was also thinking that the software applications (ie. programs) discussed in the section "Applications" (ie. times when the Writ was applied) could also be misleading. Jm3 (talk) 05:16, 18 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Necessary and appropriate?[edit]

@Skepticalgiraffe: The article says

Necessary or appropriate in aid of jurisdiction — the writ must be necessary and appropriate to the particular case.

There appears to be a difference between "and" and "or". AxelBoldt (talk) 16:21, 19 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Changed "and" to "or" per the statute, the cited NYU Law Review source, and Logical connective. --50.53.34.6 (talk) 03:26, 21 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

NY Telephone v US[edit]

Can somebody smarter than me add some historical perspective. One good place to start would be New York Telephone v. United States. But that case doesn't seem to have a page, nor does the company's page mention it. -50.59.88.46 (talk) 18:16, 23 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Here is the case. A text search will find where "All Writs Act" is mentioned:

UNITED STATES, Petitioner, v. NEW YORK TELEPHONE COMPANY.

434 U.S. 159 (98 S.Ct. 364, 54 L.Ed.2d 376)

--50.53.50.196 (talk) 23:00, 23 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

It needs a lot of help from someone smarter than I, but there's now the start of an article at United States v. New York Telephone Co.. Don't be shy! --joe decker ^talk 21:51, 25 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]