NY Times Judith Miller "Retires"

[Dingfod]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/11/09/mil...res/index.html

Miller, who served 85 days in jail for not revealing her source, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, of information in the Valerie Plame affair. From what I've heard, her return to her job at the NY Times was controversial among the staff at the very least. "I have become the news, something a New York Times reporter never wants to be." she was reported to have said. Her departure comes as part of a negotiated severance. Miller's retirement is effective immediately.

She shouldn't have to worry about getting a job for long, there may be an opening for tailored for her soon. Scott McClellan, White House Press Secretary, has been looking rather harried lately.

[Trojan]

She'll have a show on FauxNews any day now.

[Dingfod]

Her farewell letter.

Judith Miller

On July 6 I chose to go to jail to defend my right as a journalist to protect a confidential source, the same right that enables lawyers to grant confidentiality to their clients, clergy to their parishioners, and physicians and psychotherapists to their patients. Though 49 states have extended this privilege to journalists as well, for without such protection a free press cannot exist, there is no comparable federal law. I chose to go to jail not only to honor my pledge of confidentiality, but also to dramatize the need for such a federal law.

There is no such right for reporters in the Constitution, and cleric-parishioner, doctor-patient confidentiality isn't sacred either.

[Fencesitter]

Originally Posted by Warren

Her farewell letter.

Judith Miller

On July 6 I chose to go to jail to defend my right as a journalist to protect a confidential source, the same right that enables lawyers to grant confidentiality to their clients, clergy to their parishioners, and physicians and psychotherapists to their patients. Though 49 states have extended this privilege to journalists as well, for without such protection a free press cannot exist, there is no comparable federal law. I chose to go to jail not only to honor my pledge of confidentiality, but also to dramatize the need for such a federal law.

There is no such right for reporters in the Constitution, and cleric-parishioner, doctor-patient confidentiality isn't sacred either.

But is she right that there are state laws defending that confidentiality in 49 states?

Fence

[Dingfod]

Not quite. There are 31 states with shield laws on the books plus Washington D.C. 19 states have no shield law on the books, but most do provide some degree of qualified confidentiality. Of the 31, only 7 provide absolute protection of sources, the remainder only qualified protection. California, New Jersey and New York provide absolute protection in civil cases, but only qualified protection in criminal cases. Of the states without shield laws, Texas does provide qualified protection in civil cases but none in criminal cases. Exceptions are Wyoming and Hawaii, they have no protection for journalistic sources on the books at all. That would make 48 states, not 49, that provide at least some degree of protection for journalistic sources. It would only be 49 if you icall D.C. a state.

[Fencesitter]

Ah interesting. Thanks.

Fence

[Godless Dave]

Now the NYT needs to get rid of the editor(s) who let her get away with her bullshit for so long.