Leading members of the senate judiciary committee of the 111th congress have joined together to re introduce the state secrets protection act s 417 sspa a bill that provides guidance to federal courts considering cases in which the government has asserted the state secrets privilege senate judiciary committee chairman patrick leahy d vt ranking member arlen specter r pa and committee member russ feingold d wis joined with former committee chairman and member . State secrets protection act senate committee on judiciary senate us on amazoncom free shipping on qualifying offers state secrets protection act senate committee on judiciary. State secrets protection act senate committee on judiciary senate us 9781480150775 books amazonca. The state secrets protection act provides courts with the opportunity to conduct more searching judicial review before dismissing a case that may involve state secrets issues at the same time the bill recognizes that legitimate state secrets information may limit the ability of the government to defend against a claim in some instances specifically. State secrets protection act amends the federal judicial code to 1 require a federal court to determine which filings motions and affidavits or portions submitted under this act shall be submitted ex parte 2 allow a federal court to order a party to provide a redacted unclassified or summary substitute of a filing motion or affidavit to other parties and 3 require a federal court to make decisions under this act taking into consideration the interests of justice and