Supreme Court Upholds Anti-Terror Law

The Supreme Court has upheld a key anti-terror law that the Executive Branch has been using as part of the War on Terror:

The Supreme Court on Monday upheld a federal law that forbids providing training and advice to terrorist organizations even about entirely peaceful and legal activities, saying it does not violate the free speech rights of those who want to help.

The court ruled 6 to 3 that Congress and the executive branch had legitimate reasons for barring "material support" to foreign organizations deemed to be terrorists in the USA Patriot Act.

Those challenging the law "simply disagree with the considered judgment of Congress and the executive that providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization -- even seemingly benign support -- bolsters the terrorist activities of that organization," Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote for the majority.

"That judgment, however, is entitled to significant weight, and we have persuasive evidence before us to sustain it."

He was joined by the court's conservatives -- Justices Antonin Scalia, Anthony M. Kennedy, Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr. -- as well as its most liberal member, retiring Justice John Paul Stevens.

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