KTLA.com | LA's WB | Television Los Angeles | How the Death of Judy's Father Made America More Secretive: "U.S. vs. Reynolds wasn't familiar to the public, law students everywhere knew it to be the landmark 1953 ruling that formally established the government's 'state secrets' privilege � a privilege that has enabled federal agencies to conceal conduct, withhold documents and block troublesome civil litigation, including suits by whistle-blowers and possible victims of discrimination."