Sunday, April 10, 2011

Private Investigator News: Hawaii governor signs shield law

"Gov. Linda Lingle signed Hawaii’s shield bill into law last week, providing new legal protection to journalists asked to disclose their sources and newsgathering materials in state courts.

Both houses of the state Legislature unanimously passed the law in late April, just before heading into summer recess. Hawaii became the 36th state to offer a shield for journalists.

The law offers an absolute privilege protecting both the identity of sources and the content of newsgathering materials in most situations.

In felony prosecutions and civil defamation actions, though, the measure will offer only a qualified privilege for journalists. In those circumstances the privilege would not apply if the information is otherwise unavailable, 'noncumulative' -- i.e., not merely repetitive -- and necessary to the charge, claim or defense asserted."

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Location Oakland, Ca | San Francisco, Ca | California - Private Investigator