HR 5956 · 112th Congress · Law
State Secrets Protection Act
Bill Progress
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Introduced2
Committee3
House Vote4
Senate5
EnactedLatest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law.(2012-06-28)
Plain Language Summary
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State Secrets Protection Act - Amends the Federal Rules of Evidence to declare that, in any civil action brought in federal or state court, the government has a privilege to refuse to give information and to prevent any person from giving information only if the government shows that public disclosure of the information that the government seeks to protect would be reasonably likely to cause significant harm to the national defense or the diplomatic relations of the United States. Requires the court to take steps, which may include in camera and ex parte hearings and other security procedures, to protect sensitive information that comes before it. Sets forth the court's authority regarding the participation of counsel, appointment of a guardian ad litem to represent an absent litigant's interests, and the disclosure of information when it presents a risk of harm. Provides for court-ordered presentation of adequate or nonprivileged substitutes (redacted copies, summary of information, stipulation of facts) for privileged information. Allows the government to: (1) assert the privilege in connection with any claim in a civil action to which it is a party, or (2) intervene in a civil a…
Summarized by Claude AI · Non-partisan · For informational purposes only
Cosponsors (6)
5 Democrats1 Republican