Federal Prosecutors, in a Policy Shift, Cite Warrantless Wiretaps as Evidence
This is a good out for Obama.  He can't cancel the program or he may appear soft on terror, hurting Democratic presidential chances.  Furthermore, the underlying surveillance law was passed by Congress (FISA Amendments Act of 2008), and he has a duty to uphold it.  However, he doesn't want to continue these programs unless they are constitutional.  Letting the Supreme Court review the program either shuts it down or gives it a stamp of legality.  Now that derived evidence has been introduced into a criminal court, someone finally has standing to sue.  This may be a part of a gradual wind down of the war on terror.