Ordering Apple to access data against its will would be akin to making a reluctant drug company carry out a lethal injection, a US judge has said.
Judge James Orenstein was hearing a US government request to make it retrieve information from a locked iPhone seized by law enforcement officers.
On Monday, the judge expressed doubt that he had the authority to do so.
Apple has agreed to similar requests previously but is now refusing, saying it would erode customers' trust.