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News / Northwest

NJ court weighing limits of journalist shield law

The Columbian
Published: February 8, 2011, 12:00am

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey’s Supreme Court has heard arguments in a case that focuses on whether protections given to journalists should apply to others who post online.

Freehold-based software company Too Much Media has sued Shellee Hale of Bellevue, Wash., to make her reveal her sources for posts she made claiming customer information was compromised.

Hale has claimed she’s protected by shield laws for journalists.

A judge previously ruled that Hale’s posts were nothing more than the rants of “a private person with unexplained motives for her postings.”

In oral arguments Tuesday, Hale’s attorney said she was gathering news like any other journalist and planned to post results of her investigation online and possibly in a book.

Justices questioned whether New Jersey’s law could potentially apply to anyone posting online.

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