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Senators Introduce Federal Shield Law

By AAN Staff
september 12, 2007  12:19 pm
The Free Flow of Information Act of 2007 "seeks to reconcile reporters' need to maintain confidentiality, in order to ensure that sources will speak openly and freely, with the public's right to effective law enforcement and fair trials," according to a press release. The bill was introduced Monday by Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Richard Lugar (R-IN). "It is time to simplify the patchwork of court decisions and legislation that has grown over the last three decades," Specter says. "It is time for Congress to clear up the ambiguities journalists and the federal judicial system face in balancing the protections journalists need in providing confidential information to the public with the ability of the courts to conduct fair and accurate trials." The bill modifies earlier shield law legislation introduced in the House by Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), and in the Senate by Sen. Lugar and Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT).
View full article at U.S. Senator Arlen Specter Press Release
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