In the Matter of Knight-Ridder Broadcasting, Inc. v. Sol Greenberg, as Albany County District Attorney

Summary

The Court held that New York’s Shield Law does not protect nonconfidential sources or information obtained in the course of news gathering, so the subpoena duces tecum was not quashed. It also rejected Knight‑Ridder’s First Amendment claim, finding no qualified privilege for the requested material, and dismissed the motion as moot, answering the certified question in the negative. Justice Bellacosa dissented, contending that the Shield Law provides an unqualified privilege and that the subpoena should be quashed.