Reply #4: Exactly! I believe it was in the 81-page ruling that one of the [View All]

[Spazito]

Judges expressed, in very strong terminology, his concerns regarding the seriousness of the alleged crimes being investigated at that time. I searched for his exact quote but was unable to find it, unfortunately but here is an article from that time, it was interesting to go back and read it given today's news:

Judges Order 2 Reporters to Testify on Leak


The unanimous opinion was an expected but still painful blow for the reporters, their news organizations, other media and advocates of free speech. The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled there is no First Amendment privilege that allows reporters to conceal information they gather from a criminal inquiry.

The 81-page ruling held out some hope for the media, with two judges suggesting that common law could shield journalists seeking to protect the identity of confidential sources in other situations.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25744-2005Feb15.html