Richard Leon, the judge who declared that the National Security Agency's bulk collection of millions of Americans' telephone records is likely unconstitutional, has a long record of taking on executive branch actions.
Leon, a blunt-spoken, bow-tie wearing appointee of President George W. Bush, has ruled against the federal agencies on issues from drugs used for executions to warnings on cigarette packages.
Even before his ruling in the NSA case, the 64-year-old Leon acknowledged in a hearing that it didn't matter how he ruled because the issue will probably be decided by the Supreme Court.
