Innocence Project's Journalism Students Ordered to Hand Over Emails to Illinois Prosecutors
NPRreported that a Chicago judge ordered investigative journalism students to deliver more than 500 emails related to a 33-year-old murder case to state prosecutors. The students were investigating the case as part of the Medill Innocence Project, which has helped free a dozen men wrongfully convicted of murder.
[State prosecutors] filed a subpoena in 2009 demanding all the students’ and professor Protess’ notes, interviews, tapes, emails relative to the case, as well as other documents, including grades and course evaluations. . . .
[T]he judge ruled that the students weren’t acting as journalists, protected by the Illinois reporter’s privilege law, but as investigators for the defense. . . .
There are concerns that if the ruling stands, it could have a chilling effect on the work of journalism students across the country. . . .
Northwestern University has until Sept. 21 to decide whether to appeal.
There is also concern that this may affect law schools’ Innocence Projects that may collaborate with investigate journalism students.
How, if at all, do you think this ruling will affect law school clinical programs?
Read the full story here.
