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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A Utah Supreme Court advisory committee has agreed to consider reporter protection.
Yesterday, the Advisory Committee agreed to look at creating a draft rule that would offer news reporters some protections from having to reveal confidential sources or turn over their notes under court subpoena.
It's an idea brought to them by media law attorney Jeff Hunt and supported by Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff. Hunt says this is about protecting the role of the news media to disperse information. He says Utah is among five states without some kind of shield laws.
Shurtleff says he will pursue a bill if a rule doesn't pan out. He says he'll also encourage law enforcement to get behind it or remain neutral. But he says some legislators already have characterized the idea as putting reporters above the law.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
