<i>The FBI is after a legal precedent.</i><p>Surely they have enough evidence to convict the accused. The phone likely wouldn&#x27;t give them anything essential to the case. It&#x27;s already a wrap.<p>However, the legal precedent would be <i>invaluable</i> for future &lt;s&gt;rights violations&lt;&#x2F;s&gt;legal proceedings. They have 1. Nothing to lose in this particular case. 2. A maximally effective situation for getting this ruling, complete with irrational fear-based public support (&quot;bcuz turrists!1!&quot;).<p>Seriously. If your goal is to create this legal precedent, go ahead and <i>try</i> to imagine a better scenario under which this could rule in your favor. I&#x27;ll wait.