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Constitutional Law Keyed to Choper
Branzburg v. Hayes
Citation:
408 U.S. 665, 92 S.Ct. 2646, 33 L.Ed.2d 626 (1972)Facts
This matter consisted of 3 separate matters combined into one appeal for judicial efficiency.
Branzburg, a Kentucky reporter, wrote articles describing his observations of local hashish-making and other drug violations. He refused to testify before a grand jury regarding his information.
Pappas, a Massachusetts TV newsman-photographer, was allowed to enter and remain inside a Black Panther headquarters if he disclosed nothing. When an anticipated police raid did not occur, he wrote no story. Summoned before a local grand jury, he refused to answer any questions about what had occurred inside the Panther headquarters or to identify those he had observed.
Caldwell, a reporter covering the Black Panthers was summoned to appear before a federal grand jury investigating Panther activities. A federal court issued a protective order providing that although he had to divulge information given him, he could withhold confidential information developed or maintained by him as a professional journalist. Caldwell disregarded the order and was held in contempt.
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