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A Virginia judge turned down a plea from the federal government this week to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the no-fly list.

(The Associated Press)

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A judge has rejected the federal government's effort to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the no-fly list on the grounds that the lawsuit would expose state secrets.

In a ruling issued Thursday in federal court in Alexandria, Judge Anthony Trenga said that while he might allow certain evidence to be kept out of trial, he would not shut down the entire lawsuit.

The government argued that the entire lawsuit needs to be tossed, but Trenga said he reviewed the documents in question and remains unconvinced that the lawsuit will necessarily expose state secrets. He said remedies can be fashioned that leave the lawsuit intact.

Gulet Mohamed of Alexandria filed the lawsuit in 2011 after his apparent placement on the no-fly list left him detained by Kuwaiti authorities.

-- The Associated Press