Journalist’s Privilege - Tulsa Trial Attorneys

Client Reviews From Journalist’s Privilege Cases

"THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN ME AND FIGHTING FOR ME WHEN EVEN MY FAMILY GAVE UP." L.H.

"THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING TO MY HUSBAND AND I. UNDERSTANING WHAT WAS HAPPENING MADE IT SO MUCH EASIER TO DEAL WITH." R.L.

Journalist’s Privilege

“Journalist" means any person who is a reporter, photographer, editor, commentator, journalist, correspondent, announcer, or other individual regularly engaged in obtaining, writing, reviewing, editing, or otherwise preparing news for any newspaper, periodical, press association, newspaper syndicate, wire service, radio or television station, or other news service. Any individual employed by any such news service in the performance of any of the above-mentioned activities shall be deemed to be regularly engaged in such activities. However, journalist shall not include any governmental entity or individual employed thereby engaged in official governmental information activities.

No journalist shall be required to disclose in a state proceeding either:

1. The source of any published or unpublished information obtained in the gathering, receiving or processing of information for any medium of communication to the public; or

2. Any unpublished information obtained or prepared in gathering, receiving or processing of information for any medium of communication to the public; unless the court finds that the party seeking the information or identity has established by clear and convincing evidence that such information or identity is relevant to a significant issue in the action and could not with due diligence be obtained by alternate means.

This subsection does not apply with respect to the content or source of allegedly defamatory information, in a civil action for defamation wherein the defendant asserts a defense based on the content or source of such information. 12 O.S. 2506

State Proceeding - Definition

“State proceeding" includes any proceeding or investigation before or by any judicial, legislative, executive or administrative body in this state. 12 O.S. 2506

Medium of Communication - Definition

"Medium of communication" includes any newspaper, magazine, other periodical, book, pamphlet, news service, wire service, news or feature syndicate, broadcast station or network, cable television system, or record. 12 O.S. 2506

Information - Definition

"Information" includes any written, oral or pictorial news or other record. 12 O.S. 2506

Published Information - Definition

"Published information" means any information disseminated to the public by the person from whom disclosure is sought. 12 O.S. 2506

Unpublished Information - Definition

"Unpublished information" includes information not disseminated to the public by the person from whom disclosure is sought, whether or not related information has been disseminated, and includes, but is not limited to, all notes, outtakes, photographs, tapes or other data of whatever sort not itself disseminated to the public through a medium of communication, whether or not published information based upon or related to such material has been disseminated. 12 O.S. 2506

Processing - Definition

"Processing" includes compiling, storing and editing of information.

General Provisions

• Legislative Purpose

• Scope of Rules

• Rulings on Evidence

• Preliminary Questions

• Limited Admissibility

• Remainder of Part of Record

Judicial Notice

• Judicial Notice of Law

• Judicial Notice of Adjudicative Facts

• Determining Propriety of Taking Judicial Notice

Presumptions

• Establishment of Basic Fact

• Effect of Presumptions in Civil Cases

• Presumptions in Criminal Cases

• Inconsistent Presumptions

Relevance

• Relevant Evidence Generally Admissible - Irrelevant Evidence Inadmissible

• Exclusion of Relevant Evidence on Grounds of Prejudice, Confusion or Cumulative Nature of Evidence

• Character Evidence Not Admissible to Prove Conduct

• Methods of Proving Character

• Habit - Routine Practice

• Subsequent Remedial Measures

• Compromise and Offers to Compromise

• Payment of Medical and Similar Expenses

• Offer to Plead Guilty - Nolo Contendere - Withdrawn Plea of Guilty

• Liability Insurance

• Sexual Offense Against Another Person - Evidence of Complaining Witness’s Previous Sexual Conduct Inadmissible - Exception

• Evidence of Commission of Other Sexual Assault Offense - Admissibility - Disclosures by Prosecutor

• Evidence of Commission of Other Child Molestation Offense - Admissibility - Disclosures by Prosecutor

Privilege

• Privileges Recognized Only as Provided

• Attorney-Client Privilege

• Accountant-Client Privilege

• Physician- and Psychotherapist-Patient Privilege

• Interpreter for the Deaf

• Husband Wife Privilege

• Religious Privilege

• Journalist's Privilege

• Renumbered as 12 O.S. § 2503.1 by Laws 2002, HB 1939, c. 468, § 78, eff. November 1, 2002

• Peer Support Counseling Privilege

• Political Vote

• Trade Secrets

• Secrets of State and Other Official Information; Governmental Privileges

• Identity of Informer

• Crime Stoppers Organization

• Waiver of Privilege by Voluntary Disclosure

• Privileged Matter Disclosed Under Compulsion or Without Opportunity to Claim Privilege

• Comment Upon or Inference From Claim of Privilege - Instruction

Witnesses

• General Rule of Competency

• Lack of Personal Knowledge

• Oath or Affirmation

• Interpreters

• Competency of Judge as Witness

• Competency of Juror as Witness

• Who May Impeach

• Evidence of Character and Conduct of Witness

• Impeachment by Evidence of Conviction of Crime

• Religious Beliefs or Opinions

• Mode and Order of Interrogation and Presentation

• Repealed

• Unusual Court Procedures to Protect Rights of Incapacitated Persons - Criminal Defendant - Judicial Integrity

Uniform Child Witness Testimony by Alternative Methods Act

• Short Title

• Definitions

• Applicability in Criminal and Noncriminal Proceedings

• Hearing - When Ordered, How Conducted, Rules of Evidence

• When Child Witness May Testify by Alternate Means - Findings, Factors, Evidentiary Standards

• Factors Affecting Selection of Alternate Method of Testifying

• Orders

• Opportunity for Cross Examination

• Construction of Act

• Use of a Certified Therapeutic Dog

• Writing Used to Refresh Memory

• Prior Statements of Witnesses

• Calling and Interrogation of Witnesses by Court

• Exclusion of Witnesses

Expert and Opinion Testimony

• Opinion Testimony by Lay Witnesses

• Testimony by Experts

• Bases of Opinion Testimony by Experts

• Opinion on Ultimate Issue

• Disclosure of Facts or Data Underlying Expert Opinion

Hearsay

• Definitions

• Hearsay Rule

• Hearsay Exceptions - Availability of Declarant Immaterial

• Statements by Certain Children Regarding Physical or Sexual Abuse - Admissibility

• Renumbered as 12 O.S. § 2611.2 by Laws 1999, SB 481, c. 108, § 1, eff. November 1, 1999

• Hearsay Exception - Declarant Unavailable

• Hearsay Exception - Exceptional Circumstances

• Hearsay Within Hearsay

• Attacking and Supporting Credibility of Declarant

Authentication and Identification

• Requirement of Authentication or Identification

• Self-Authentication

• Subscribing Witness's Testimony Unnecessary

Contents of Writings, Recordings and Photographs

• Definitions

• Requirement of Original

• Admissibility of Duplicates

• Admissibility of Other Evidence of Contents

• Public Records

• Summaries

• Testimony or Written Admission of Party

• Functions of Judge and Jury

• Medical Bills - Identification

• Admissibility of Medical Expenses

• Repealed

• Admissibility of Evidence of Assemblage in Exercise of Free Speech or Display of Religious Beliefs

Journalist’s Privilege Litigation Expertise

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