- The U.S. government cannot force Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) to unlock an iPhone in a New York drug case, U.S. Magistrate Judge James Orenstein declared on Monday, a ruling that could affect a similar decision involving the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone in California.
- "It would betray our constitutional heritage and our people’s claim to democratic governance for a judge to pretend that our Founders already had that debate, and ended it, in 1789,” Judge Orenstein wrote, referring to the archaic All Writs Act.
- The ruling, which will likely shape the broader battle about privacy and security, comes before today's congressional testimony on "San Bernardino" from Apple and the FBI.