From an Atlantic article wherein a NSA admitted that they had provided “cute” or “aggressive” interpretations of the law to wrongfully expand their spying abiltites:

http://news.yahoo.com/nsas-director-civil-liberties-renounces-secret-law-110951711.html

If the NSA can admit that what they did was wrong (spying on everyone without a court order or only rubber stamped court orders) this will be a step in the right direction.

The courts are also there to funnel the efforts of agencies so that American taxpayers are not spending too much for spying efforts.  Qui Tam action, anyone?