A federal judge ruled Monday that the New York City Police Department will have to hand over details of how it infiltrated protest groups during the 2004 Republican National Convention.

The ruling stems from two federal lawsuits brought by the New York Civil Liberties Union challenging the mass arrest of 1,800 protestors during the convention that nominated George Bush for a second term as president.

The NYPD claims its treatment of protestors was justified by information it obtained from its surveillance operation.

Some 2,000 pages of documents concerning the undercover operation will have to be turned over by the department if the judge's ruling is upheld.

NY1 has reached out to the NYPD for comment.