Washington — The Justice Department has broad discretion in the use of wiretaps and other surveillance techniques to track suspected terrorists and spies, a U.S. appeals court panel ruled Monday.

In a 56-page opinion overturning a May decision by the ultra-secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, the three-judge panel said the expanded wiretap guidelines sought by Attorney-General John Ashcroft under the new USA Patriot Act law do not violate the Constitution.

The special panel from the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ordered the lower court to issue a new ruling giving the government the powers it seeks.

More to come