PUBLIC Law, Chapter 654, An Act To Shield Journalists' Confidential Sources

An Act To Shield Journalists' Confidential Sources

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 16 MRSA §61 is enacted to read:

§ 61. Shielding journalist's confidential sources

1. Compelled disclosure prohibited. A judicial, legislative, administrative or other body with the power to issue a subpoena may not compel a journalist to testify about, produce or otherwise disclose or adjudge the journalist in contempt for refusal to testify about, produce or disclose:

A. The identity of a confidential source of any information;

B. Any information that could be used to identify a confidential source; or

C. Any information obtained or received in confidence by the journalist acting in the journalistic capacity of gathering, receiving, transcribing or processing news or information for potential dissemination to the public.

2. Exceptions allowing compelled disclosure. A court may compel disclosure of the identity of a source or information described in subsection 1 if the court finds, after the journalist has been provided notice and the opportunity to be heard, that the party seeking the identity of the source or the information has established by a preponderance of the evidence:

A. In all matters, whether criminal or civil, that:

(1) The identity of the source or the information is material and relevant;

(2) The identity of the source or the information is critical or necessary to the maintenance of a party's claim, defense or proof of an issue material to the claim or defense;

(3) The identity of the source or the information is not obtainable from any alternative source or cannot be obtained by alternative means or remedies less destructive of First Amendment rights; and

(4) There is an overriding public interest in the disclosure; and

B. Based on information obtained from a source other than the journalist that:

(1) In a criminal investigation or prosecution, there are reasonable grounds to believe that a crime has occurred; or

(2) In a civil action or proceeding, there is a prima facie cause of action.

3. Compelled disclosure from 3rd parties. The protection from compelled disclosure contained in subsection 1 also applies with respect to any subpoena issued to, or other compulsory process against, a 3rd party that seeks records, information or other communications relating to business transactions between the 3rd party and the journalist for the purpose of discovering the identity of the source or obtaining information described in subsection 1. Whenever a subpoena is issued to, or other compulsory process is issued against, a 3rd party that seeks records, information or other communications on business transactions with the journalist, the affected journalist must be given reasonable and timely notice of the subpoena or compulsory process before it is executed or initiated and an opportunity to be heard. In the event that the subpoena issued to, or other compulsory process against, the 3rd party is in connection with a criminal investigation in which the journalist is the express target and advance notice as provided in this section would pose a clear and substantial threat to the integrity of the investigation, the governmental authority shall so certify to such a threat in court and notification of the subpoena or compulsory process must be given to the affected journalist as soon as it is determined that the notification will no longer pose a clear and substantial threat to the integrity of the investigation.

4. Waiver. A journalist waives the protection provided by this section if the journalist voluntarily discloses or consents to disclosure of the protected information described in subsection 1, paragraphs A and B.

Effective July 18, 2008

HP1431 LD 2047	PUBLIC Law, Chapter 654 Signed on 2008-04-18 00:00:00.0 - First Special Session - 123rd Maine Legislature Text: MS-Word, RTF or PDF		LR 3297 Item 1
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