NYPD Must Show GOP Convention Surveillance

A federal judge has ruled the New York Police Department must release 2,000 pages of documents related to its surveillance of protesters before the 2004 Republican National Convention.

Judge Richard Sullivan's ruling was made public Monday. It supports conclusions reached two years ago by a federal magistrate judge, who ordered redactions to protect police sources and said only attorneys can view the documents.

The ruling stems from two lawsuits filed because of the four-day convention at Madison Square Garden, where President George W. Bush accepted his party's nomination for a second term. The New York Civil Liberties Union lawsuits challenged the arrests of 1,800 protesters and the long waits they faced before seeing judges.

City lawyer Celeste Koeleveld says the city is disappointed by the ruling and is considering its legal options.