The original order wasn't for SSL keys or even Snowden's emails, it was for the envelope information and the IPs he was connecting from (see page 4 of http://cryptome.org/2013/10/lavabit-orders.pdf)
They wanted data on where Snowden was and who he was communicating with. Snowden uses PGP on top of Lavabit and presummably connecting to Lavabit securely. So at least to get his IP address, they needed Lavabit's cooperation or, baring that, the SSL keys.
It's a heavey handed approach, but not irrational.
They wanted data on where Snowden was and who he was communicating with. Snowden uses PGP on top of Lavabit and presummably connecting to Lavabit securely. So at least to get his IP address, they needed Lavabit's cooperation or, baring that, the SSL keys.
It's a heavey handed approach, but not irrational.