Citation. 22 Ill.408 U.S. 665, 92 S. Ct. 2686, 92 S. Ct. 2646, 33 L. Ed. 2d 626, 1 Med. L. Rptr. 2617 (1972)
Law Students: Don’t know your Studybuddy Pro login? Register here Brief Fact Summary.
The Petitioners, Branzburg, Pappas and Caldwell, newspaper reporters (Petitioners), brought suit seeking a declaration that the freedom of the press extended to personal protection regarding sources and story information.
Synopsis of Rule of Law.
This case stands for the proposition that a reporter is protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution (Constitution) insofar as they cannot be compelled to testify regarding their stories.
Facts.
Branzburg one of the Petitioners observed the making of hashish from marijuana and was later called before a grand jury to implicate the persons involved. Two of the other Petitioners, Pappas and Caldwell, both covered the Black Panthers and were later called to a federal grand jury to discuss their findings. All three reporters refused to participate in the grand juries claiming a newman’s privilege.
Issue.
This case considers whether reporters are to be held to the same standards as other citizens, which would subject them to grand jury testimony.
Held.
The Supreme Court of the United States (Supreme Court) held that reporters are subject to grand jury investigations, but in limited circumstances can quash evidence and/or refuse to cooperate under their First Amendment freedom of the press, when their own safety or the identity of an informant would be compromised.
Dissent.
Justice Potter Stewart (J. Stewart), in his dissent, held that the Supreme Court’s decision would serve to both suppress the press (for fear of being subject to grand juries) and to deter the administration of justice because reporters would be afforded procedural vehicles which would allow them to get around their duties to testify.
Concurrence. Justice Lewis Powell (J. Powell) concurred, agreeing that a newsman is not immune from testimony, but rather he is afforded protective, procedural vehicles stemming from his First Amendment constitutional rights as a reporter.
Discussion.
There is no “newsman’s privilege” as it has been conceived. Reporters are subject to the same civic duties as are other citizens, but they may use the First Amendment of the Constitution as a shield to protect their sources when they could be compromised.
