WBUR Newsroom Election 2008 CommonHealth Blog Boston Weather BBC World News NPR Top Stories NPR's Morning Edition NPR Topics: Books NPR Topics: Movies Fresh Air All Things Considered Marketplace Submit a Story Idea RSS Feeds Podcasts State Secrets on Trial By Fred Thys Listen to story (Real Audio) William Brauner at work at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, PA Boston, MA - January 05, 2006 - Never before has the Supreme Court dealt with so many cases concerning state secrets at one time. In November, the court turned down a request to hear the appeal of a former FBI translator whose lawsuit for wrongful dismissal was itself dismissed after the federal government invoked the state secrets privilege. The privilege allows the government to withhold evidence from courts on the grounds of national security. On Friday, the Supreme Court meets to consider whether to take the case of a former CIA agent who sued the agency for racial discrimination. The government has invoked the state secrets privilege in his case, and is arguing that the case should be thrown out. All state secrets claims are based on a 1953 Supreme Court decision that recognized that the government has the right to keep secrets from courts. Now, the case that established the state secrets privilege is itself back on the Supreme Court's doorstep. That decision arose out of a lawsuit stemming from the crash of a B-29 bomber. It is coming under question as a widow and the children of three men killed in the crash say the government lied to the Supreme Court in order to obtain the state secrets privilege. Last month, they filed a petition asking the court to hear their case. State Secrets on Trial View images and letter related to the Brauner case.    From The WBUR Newsroom Judge Postpones Sentencing Ex-FBI Agent Connolly MIAMI (December 04, 2008) A Miami judge has postponed sentencing for former FBI agent John Connolly, who denies any role in the 1982 slaying of a Miami gambling executive. Connolly faces up to life in prison. Gun Club, Police Chief Indicted In Boy's Uzi Death SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (December 04, 2008) A gun club and a police chief whose company sponsored a gun show have been indicted for involuntary manslaughter in the death of an 8-year-old Connecticut boy who accidentally shot himself with an Uzi. Mass. Lawmakers Wary Of Turnpike Privitization BOSTON (December 04, 2008) Many state lawmakers say they're skeptical of the idea of privatizing the Massachusetts Turnpike.. Celtics Win 10th In A Row BOSTON (December 04, 2008) The Boston Celtics beat the Indiana Pacers 114-96 on Wednesday night for their 10th straight victory.