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I am not a lawyer. The lawyers at DOJ know what they are doing (notwithstanding the history or fact that signal will respond with little information): The subp

I am not a lawyer. The lawyers at DOJ know what they are doing (notwithstanding the history or fact that signal will respond with little information): The subpoena has a request for interstate wire to help them quash future motions to dismiss on jurisdictional grounds. Whatever statute they're looking to charge will have an element of federal jurisdiction attached and interstate wire works great even if there are other ways. It's easy to ask, so they'll ask for it all.

mdeck_ 6y ago
I am a lawyer, and you’re correct. It’s typically called a “jurisdictional hook.” In certain regards the US Constitution limits the U.S. Congress’s ability to legislate to issues that touch on “interstate commerce.” If it all happens within Montana’s borders, that’s typically for Montana to handle in its own state legislature. So, for the DOJ to investigate something, they have to then satisfy whatever jurisdictional hook that the Congress put in the law, which in turn makes the law constitutional (in the sense of: within the Congress’s jurisdiction to legislate about). Here, the Congress will have required a proof of “use of interstate wires” (or something to that effect).
- djoldman 6y ago
  I'm less certain of the following but as I understand it: if the event in question involves telephone/fiber lines or airwaves, it's usually a shoe-in for Fed jurisdiction anyway because those are generally regulated by some Fed agency and/or travel at some point through Fed-owned, regulated, or operated assets.
  - justaguy88 6y ago
    I'm now wondering if it's possible to make a within-state-only messaging service. What would something look like that manages to avoid Federal jurisdiction as much as possible?
    - aitkenably 6y ago
      You’d have to take into consideration Federal lands within states where federal laws apply: National Parks, military installations, and other Federal buildings like courthouses. U.S. jurisdiction is complicated.
    - djoldman 6y ago
      If your service sends signals from cellphones (radio waves), those are regulated by the FCC... Fed jurisdiction extends in weird ways.
    - salawat 6y ago
      Funny you should mention that. Look up the Texas power grid. Completely independent from the rest of the U.S. and has stayed that way despite some rather impressive drama w.r.t. the Midnight Connection Controversy.

mdeck_ 6y ago

I am a lawyer, and you’re correct. It’s typically called a “jurisdictional hook.” In certain regards the US Constitution limits the U.S. Congress’s ability to legislate to issues that touch on “interstate commerce.” If it all happens within Montana’s borders, that’s typically for Montana to handle in its own state legislature. So, for the DOJ to investigate something, they have to then satisfy whatever jurisdictional hook that the Congress put in the law, which in turn makes the law constitutional (in the sense of: within the Congress’s jurisdiction to legislate about). Here, the Congress will have required a proof of “use of interstate wires” (or something to that effect).

djoldman 6y ago
I'm less certain of the following but as I understand it: if the event in question involves telephone/fiber lines or airwaves, it's usually a shoe-in for Fed jurisdiction anyway because those are generally regulated by some Fed agency and/or travel at some point through Fed-owned, regulated, or operated assets.
- justaguy88 6y ago
  I'm now wondering if it's possible to make a within-state-only messaging service. What would something look like that manages to avoid Federal jurisdiction as much as possible?
  - aitkenably 6y ago
    You’d have to take into consideration Federal lands within states where federal laws apply: National Parks, military installations, and other Federal buildings like courthouses. U.S. jurisdiction is complicated.
  - djoldman 6y ago
    If your service sends signals from cellphones (radio waves), those are regulated by the FCC... Fed jurisdiction extends in weird ways.
  - salawat 6y ago
    Funny you should mention that. Look up the Texas power grid. Completely independent from the rest of the U.S. and has stayed that way despite some rather impressive drama w.r.t. the Midnight Connection Controversy.