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Judge: Reporters Need Protection for Sources
CHICAGO (AP) -- The federal judge who presided over Washington's CIA leak case said Saturday in Chicago that reporters must have some protections against courtroom attempts to find out their sources, but it should be limited.

U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton of Washington told an American Bar Association panel that courts shouldn't be able to "just willy nilly extract information from reporters."

Shield legislation now pending on Capitol Hill would give reporters some protection against having to reveal sources. But both House and Senate bills contain exceptions for national security and other matters.

Chicago's U.S. attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald was also on the panel. He says those calling for a shield law should realize even federal agents couldn't offer unlimited protection to a source willing to disclose the hiding place of Osama bin Laden.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
08 01 09 by Newsroom
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