Activist magistrate overruled on search warrant

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has set aside a ruling by an activist magistrate who has been rejecting some government requests for search warrants to conduct electronic surveillance.

The decision by Chief Judge Richard Roberts of the U.S. District Court in Washington followed the government’s challenge to an order by Magistrate Judge John M. Facciola, who twice denied search warrant applications in a criminal kickbacks investigation.