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S 1686 111th Congress Senate Crime and Law Enforcement Business records Civil actions and liability Congressional oversight Consumer credit Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Criminal justice information and records Evidence and witnesses Government information and archives Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information Right of privacy Telephone and wireless communication Terrorism

JUSTICE Act

Introduced: September 17, 2009 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 17, 2009
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sep 17, 2009
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9562-9564)
Sep 17, 2009
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Judicious Use of Surveillance Tools In Counterterrorism Efforts Act of 2009 or the JUSTICE Act - Revises requirements for the issuance of and public reporting on national security letters and for judicial review of requirements for nondisclosure of the receipt of a national security letter.

Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) to revise requirements for obtaining orders for business records in counterterrorism investigations.

Amends the federal criminal code to reduce from 30 to 7 days the period for notifying the target of a criminal investigation of the issuance of a search warrant. Prohibits the use of evidence in judicial and administrative proceedings if notice of a search warrant is delayed.

Amends FISA to: (1) impose limits on roving electronic surveillance and the use of pen registers and trap and trace devices (devices for recording incoming and outgoing telephone numbers); (2) repeal provisions granting retroactive immunity to telecommunication providers for illegal disclosure of subscriber records; (3) prohibit the warrantless collection of certain communications of U.S. citizens known to reside in the United States; and (5) revise certain reporting and evidentiary requirements.

Permits the recipient of a subpoena, order, or warrant issued under FISA to bring a challenge in either the district in which the subpoena, order, or warrant was issued or the district in which it was served.

Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) redefine "domestic terrorism" as involving acts dangerous to human life that constitute a federal crime of terrorism; and (2) revise the crime of providing material support or resources to foreign terrorism organizations to require knowledge or intent that such support or resources will be used to carry out terrorist activity.

What's happening now September 17, 2009

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1686: JUSTICE Act. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1686/
MLA
"S. 1686: JUSTICE Act." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1686/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1686, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1686/.
Markdown link
[S. 1686: JUSTICE Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1686/)
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