WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by outed spy Valerie Plame and her husband against Vice President Dick Cheney and other top Bush administration officials . A judge threw out the lawsuit from ex-spy Valerie Plame and husband Joseph Wilson . Plame had accused members of the Bush administration of leaking her identity . To knowingly disclose classified information to unauthorized recipients is a crime , and Plame 's position was classified . U.S. District Judge John Bates said the lawsuit raises `` important questions relating to the propriety of actions undertaken by our highest government officials . '' But in a 41-page decision , he found Plame and her husband , former U.S . Ambassador Joseph Wilson , failed to show the case belongs in federal court . Plame 's identity as a CIA operative was exposed in July 2003 after Wilson publicly challenged a key argument in the Bush administration 's case for the invasion of Iraq . The couple argued the disclosure destroyed her career and was done to retaliate against Wilson , who said the administration had `` twisted '' the evidence used to justify the invasion . CIA leak timeline » . Bates , a Bush appointee , agreed with defense arguments that federal law protects Cheney and the other top administration officials from being sued for actions taken as part of their official duties . The way the defendants handled criticism from Joseph Wilson `` may have been highly unsavory , '' the judge wrote , but `` there can be no serious dispute that the act of rebutting public criticism ... by speaking with members of the press is within the scope of defendants ' duties as high-level executive branch officials . '' Valerie Plame 's exposure ignited a criminal probe that led to I. Lewis `` Scooter '' Libby 's conviction in March on charges of perjury , obstruction of justice and lying to federal agents investigating the leak . President Bush commuted Libby 's 30-month prison term earlier this month , calling it `` excessive , '' but let the verdicts stand . Melanie Sloan , the Wilsons ' lawyer , said the couple plans to appeal Thursday 's ruling . `` While we are obviously very disappointed by today 's decision , we have always expected that this case would ultimately be decided by a higher court . ... We disagree with the court 's holding and intend to pursue this case vigorously to protect all Americans from vindictive government officials who abuse their power for their own political ends , '' she said in a statement . Joseph Wilson said the decision was `` just the first step in what we have always known would be a long legal battle . '' `` This case is not just about what top government officials did to Valerie and me , '' he said in a statement issued to reporters . `` We brought this suit because we strongly believe that politicizing intelligence ultimately serves only to undermine the security of our nation . '' Lea Ann McBride , Cheney 's spokeswoman , said `` the vice president is pleased that the court has dismissed the lawsuit . '' The Libby defense team declined to comment . Libby , with his appeal still pending , has deferred to defense attorney Ted Wells to speak for the Libby family . Barbara Comstock , a spokeswoman , told CNN `` there will be no statement . '' In addition to Libby and Cheney , the lawsuit also named former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Karl Rove , Bush 's top political adviser . During the course of the leak probe , Rove and Armitage were found to have been the two `` senior administration officials '' columnist and former CNN contributor Robert Novak cited in identifying Plame as a CIA operative . Both cooperated with special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald 's investigation , and neither was charged with a crime . E-mail to a friend .
Ex-spy had accused members of Bush administration of leaking her identity . Judge tosses out lawsuit from Plame , husband Plame . Plame -appointed judge said couple failed to show case belongs in federal court . Joseph Wilson 's identity as a Wilson operative was exposed in July 2003 .