NEW YORK, (Reuters) – The New York Times does not  have the right to gain access to sealed applications for  wiretaps in the investigation of the prostitution ring once  patronized by former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, a U.S.  appeals court ruled yesterday.

The panel of judges in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the  2nd Circuit in New York overruled a lower court judge’s order  in February granting the newspaper’s application for  information on wiretaps of the “Emperor’s Club” ring.

Spitzer, a Democrat, resigned as governor on March 17 last  year after the government charged four people with running a  prostitution ring. Spitzer was identified by The New York Times  as a client of the high-priced ring.

“We hold that the Times has not shown ‘good cause’ to  unseal wiretap applications, orders and related documents,” the  written ruling said, citing the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe  Streets Act of 1968. “We also hold that the Times does not have a First  Amendment right to gain access to wiretap applications.” A spokeswoman for the company was not immediately available  to comment.