US judicial panel members consider legal brief in Apple case: sources

Entering the fray: Members of the US House Judiciary Committee are considering filing a 'friend of the court' brief in Apple Inc's encryption dispute with the US Government to argue that the case should be decided by Congress. — Reuters

WASHINGTON: Members of the US House Judiciary Committee are considering filing a "friend of the court" brief in Apple Inc's encryption dispute with the US Government to argue that the case should be decided by Congress and not the courts, five sources familiar with the matter said.

The sources cautioned that no final agreement had been reached on what would be an unusual intervention by congressmen in a legal proceeding. Any filing would occur after a panel hearing on March 1 that will include FBI Director James Comey and Apple General Counsel Bruce Sewell. The court deadline is March 3.