http://www.sunspot.net/news/printedition/bal-ar.deibler18jul18.story?coll=ba... 2001-07-18 05:35:39 Court boosts taping laws Appeals judges say ignorance no defense in wiretapping cases; 'Willfully' is key word; Decision stems from surveillance of Edgewater home By Andrea F. Siegel Sun Staff July 18, 2001 In a decision that will benefit prosecutors, the state's highest court ruled yesterday that a person need not know it is illegal to bug conversations to be convicted of wiretapping. The 5-2 Court of Appeals opinion sets aside what had been the prevailing interpretation, in which the lower appellate court said a person who violates the state wiretapping law must know that what he did was illegal. The standard in yesterday's ruling says a defendant can be convicted if the wiretap was done on purpose, not inadvertently. ...