Reporter's Privilege Compendium

Author

Thomas B. Kelley (kelleyt@ballardspahr.com; (303) 376-2410)
Steven D. Zansberg (zansbergs@ballardspahr.com; (303) 376-2409)
Malia K. Rogers (rogersmk@ballardspahr.com; (303) 299-7356)
Ballard Spahr LLP
1225 17th Street, Suite 2300

Denver, Colorado 80202
www.ballardspahr.com

Jennifer A. Mansfield
Holland & Knight LLP
50 North Laura Street, Suite 3900
Jacksonville, FL 32202
T: 904.353.2000

Special thanks to Sanford L. Bohrer and Scott D. Ponce, of Holland & Knight LLP, the previous authors of this chapter.

Last updated June 2023

Elizabeth A. Ritvo, Esq.
eritvo@brownrudnick.com
Johanna Fay, Esq.
jfay@brownrudnick.com
Brown Rudnick LLP
One Financial Center
Boston, Massachusetts 02111
(617) 856-8200

The authors acknowledge the contributions of Samantha L. Gerlovin, co-author of an earlier edition of this chapter.

Last updated November 3, 2025

Lin Weeks
Christine Walz
Holland & Knight LLP
31 W. 52^nd Street
New York, NY 10014
(212) 513-3200

Special thanks to the original authors of this chapter, Jeremy Feigelson, James C. Goodale, Rosa Castello, Susan A. McMahon, and Julie S. Suh at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP.

Jay Ward Brown, Partner
Ballard Spahr LLP
1909 K Street, N.W., 12th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 508-1136
brownjay@ballardspahr.com

Last updated June 2025

Author’s Note: The author gratefully acknowledges Ryan R. Relyea (the current and some prior editions) and Azeezat Adeleke, Brian C. Earl, Daniel Heng, Aaron Johansen and John F. Blevins (prior editions) for the research and writing they contributed to this outline.

Mark I. Bailen
Katherine L. McKnight
Benjamin J. Irwin
Baker & Hostetler LLP
Washington Square, Suite 1100
1050 Connecticut Avenue, Northwest
Washington, D.C. 20036-5304
Telephone (202) 861-1500
Facsimile (202) 861-1783

Last updated February 20, 2020

Thomas S. Leatherbury
Marc A. Fuller
Lindsey D. Pryor
Seth R. Yost
Vinson & Elkins LLP
Trammell Crow Center
2001 Ross Avenue
Suite 3900
Dallas, TX 75201-2975
Phone: 214.220.7792
tleatherbury@velaw.com
mfuller@velaw.com
lpryor@velaw.com
syost@velaw.com

Special thanks to Kim R. McCoy and Emily S. Johnson, who contributed to a prior version of this chapter.

Last updated Nov. 26, 2019 

David Marburger
Marburger Law LLC
14700 Detroit Ave., Suite 1
Cleveland, OH 44107

Kenneth E. Kraus
Ken Kraus Law, LLC
215 Glen Hollow Road
Madison, Wisconsin 53705
ken@kenkrauslaw.com
312.420.7292

Susan P. Elgin
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
801 Grand Avenue, 33rd Floor
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-8003
Telephone:  515-248-9000
Facsimile:  515-248-9010
Email:  susan.elgin@faegredrinker.com

Leita Walker
Ballard Spahr LLP
2000 IDS Center
80 South 8th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402-2119
Telephone:  612-371-3211
Facsimile:  612-371-3207
Email:  walkerl@ballardspahr.com

With special thanks to the previous authors of this chapter, Shari Jerde and I. Jenny Winkler at Dorsey & Whitney LLP.

Last updated September 2020

Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr.
Michael H. Dore
Grace Rehaut
John Haderlein
Ben Holston
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
333 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90071-3197
Telephone: (213) 229-7000
Facsimile: (213) 229-7520

Last updated August 2022

Evans Bailey
ebailey@rushtonstakely.com
Rushton, Stakely, Johnston & Garrett, P.A.
184 Commerce Street
Post Office Box 270 (36101-0270)
Montgomery, AL
P (334) 206-3234
F (334) 481-0031

Last updated July 2025

Author

John McKay, Esq.

Law Offices of D. John McKay

117 East Cook Avenue

Anchorage, AK 99501
907-274-3154
mckay@alaska.net

David J. Bodney and Chase A. Bales
Ballard Spahr LLP
1 East Washington Street
Suite 2300
Phoenix, Arizona 85004-2382
Telephone: (602) 798-5400
Facsimile: (602) 798-5595
www.ballardspahr.com

Philip S. Anderson, Esq.
Alec Gaines, Esq.
Williams & Anderson PLC
111 Center Street, Suite 2200
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 372-0800

Last updated Sept. 18, 2019

Kelli L. Sager, Esq.
Rochelle L. Wilcox, Esq.
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
865 S. Figueroa St., Suite 2400
Los Angeles, California 90017-2566
(213) 633-6800 (Telephone)
(213) 633-6899 (Fax)
kellisager@dwt.com
rochellewilcox@dwt.com

With thanks to DWT Attorney Cydney Swofford Freeman, Esq., who assisted with the original version of this outline.

Last updated May 19, 2022

David M. Giles, Esq.
E.W. Scripps Co.
312 Walnut Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4067

Revised by:
Steven D. Zansberg (zansbergs@ballardspahr.com; (303) 376-2409)
Ethan J. Birnberg (birnberge@ballardspahr.com; (303) 454-0534)
Ballard Spahr LLP
1225 17^th Street, Suite 2300
Denver, Colorado 80202
www.ballardspahr.com

William S. Fish, Jr.
Alexa T. Millinger
HINCKLEY, ALLEN & SNYDER LLP
20 Church Street – 18th Floor
Hartford, Connecticut 06103
(860) 725-6200

Special thanks to the original author, Paul Guggina of Tyler Cooper & Alcorn LLP, Hartford, Conn.

Last updated August 2022

Charles D. Tobin
tobinc@ballardspahr.com
Adrianna C. Rodriguez
rodriguezac@ballardspahr.com
Kristel Tupja
tupjak@ballardspahr.com
Maxwell S. Mishkin
mishkinm@ballardspahr.com
Ballard Spahr LLP
1909 K Street NW
12th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20006
202-661-2200 (phone)
202-661-2299 (fax)
www.ballardspahr.com

David L. Finger
Finger & Slanina, LLC
One Commerce Center
1201 N. Orange St., 7th fl.
Wilmington, DE  19801
(302) 573-2525
dfinger@delawgroup.com
www.delawgroup.com

Charles D. Tobin
tobinc@ballardspahr.com
Adrianna C. Rodriguez
rodriguezac@ballardspahr.com
Maxwell S. Mishkin
mishkinm@ballardspahr.com
Ballard Spahr LLP
1909 K Street NW
12th Floor
Washington, DC 20006
202-661-2200 (phone)
202-661-2299 (fax)
www.ballardspahr.com

James B. Lake
Daniela Abratt-Cohen
Linda R. Norbut
Elizabeth D. Ernest
Thomas & LoCicero PL
601 South Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33606
Tel: 813-984-3060
Fax: 813-984-3070
www.tlolawfirm.com

Last updated September 15, 2023

Peter C. Canfield
Canfield Law LLC
34 Inman Circle NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
Tel: (678) 296-5413
pccanfield@gmail.com

Last updated March 15, 2024

Author

John P. Duchemin
Cades Schutte LLP
1000 Bishop Street
Honolulu, Hawai'i 96813
Tel.: (808) 521-9315
Fax: (808) 521-9210

Last updated April 2025

DEBORA KRISTENSEN GRASHAM
dkk@givenspursley.com
GIVENS PURSLEY LLP
601 W. Bannock Street
Boise, Idaho 83702
Tel: (208) 388-1200
Fax: (208) 388-1300
www.givenspursley.com

Samuel Fifer
samuel.fifer@dentons.com
Gregory R. Naron
gregory.naron@dentons.com
Dentons US LLP
233 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 5900
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 876-8000

Last updated June 2025

Daniel Byron
Margaret Christensen
Jessica Laurin
Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP
10 West Market Street
2700 Market Tower
Indianapolis, IN 46204-4900
(317) 686-5202

Susan P. Elgin and Ethan Kinney
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
801 Grand Avenue, 33rd Floor
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-8003
Telephone (515) 248-9000
Facsimile (515) 248-9010
susan.elgin@faegredrinker.com
www.faegredrinker.com

Last updated November 10, 2025

William P. Tretbar
Fleeson, Gooing, Coulson & Kitch, L.L.C.
125 N. Market, Suite 1600
Wichita, Kansas 67202
(316) 267-7361



 

Author

Jeremy S. Rogers
DINSMORE & SHOHL LLP
101 S. Fifth Street, Suite 2500
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
(502) 540-2300
jeremy.rogers@dinsmore.com

Last updated July 30, 2021

Mary Ellen Roy
roym@phelps.com
Dan Zimmerman
dan.zimmerman@phelps.com
Ashley Heilprin
ashley.heilprin@phelps.com
Phelps Dunbar LLP
365 Canal Street, Suite 2000
New Orleans, LA 70130-3245
(504) 566-1311

Last updated September 2024

Author

Sigmund D. Schutz, Esq.
Katherine J. Mail, summer law clerk, University of Michigan Law School, class of 2021
Preti, Flaherty, Beliveau & Pachios LLP
P.O. Box 9546
One City Center
Portland, ME 04112-9546
(207) 791-3000
www.preti.com

Last updated August 2025

Robin D. Leone
Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP
Lockwood Place
500 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 332-8600

Special thanks to Henry R. Abrams, Esq., who authored the previous version of this guide.

Last updated March 2018

Updated by RCFP staff from an earlier edition by Elizabeth A. Ritvo, Brown Rudnick Berlack, Boston.

Last updated May 2018

Brian D. Wassom
Charles Kadado
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
12900 Hall Road
Suite 200
Sterling Heights, MI 48313-1150
(586) 303-4139
bwassom@wnj.com

Last updated June 2025

Leita Walker
(walkerl@ballardspahr.com; (612) 371-6222)
Ballard Spahr LLP
2000 IDS Center
80 South 8th St.
Minneapolis, MN 55402-2119

John P. Borger
(John.Borger@FaegreBD.com; (612) 766-7501 (retired))
Faegre Baker Daniels LLP
2200 Wells Fargo Center
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 766-7000
www.faegrebd.com

Special thanks to Eric E. Jorstad and Laura G. Coates, who contributed to the previous version of this guide.

Haley F. Gregory
Butler Snow LLP
1020 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 1400, Ridgeland, MS 39157
P.O. Box 6010, Ridgeland, MS 39158-6010
(601) 985-4458 (direct)
haley.gregory@butlersnow.com

Fred E. Bourn III
Butler Snow LLP
1020 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 1400, Ridgeland, MS 39157
P.O. Box 6010, Ridgeland, MS 39158-6010
(601) 985-4591 (direct)
trey.bourn@butlersnow.com

Last updated September 2021

Jean Maneke, Esq.
The Maneke Law Group, L.C.
2345 Grand Blvd., Ste. 1600
Kansas City, MO 64108
(816) 753-9000

Last updated May 2021

Frederick F. Sherwood and Anne E. Sherwood
Morrison, Sherwood, Wilson and Deola, PLLP
401 N. Last Chance Gulch
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 442-3261
(406) 443-7294 (fax)
anne@mswdlaw.com

Last updated August 2024

Author

Shawn D. Renner
Cline, Williams, Wright, Johnson & Oldfather, L.L.P.
1900 U.S. Bank Building
233 South 13th Street
Lincoln NE 68508
Phone: (402) 474 - 6900
Fax: (402) 474 - 5393

Kristen Gallagher

Adam Hosmer-Henner

McDonald Carano LLP

2300 W. Sahara Avenue, Suite 1200

Las Vegas, NV 89102

Telephone: 702-873-4100

kgallagher@mcdonaldcarano.com

ahosmerhenner@mcdonaldcarano.com

With special thanks to Mark A. Hinueber, Stephens Media LLC, Las Vegas, and JoNell Thomas, Las Vegas, who previously authored this outline.

Last updated June 2020

William L. Chapman
wchapman@orr-reno.com
Laura J. Hartz
lhartz@orr-reno.com
Orr & Reno, P.A.
45 South Main Street
P.O. Box 3550
Concord, NH 03302-3550
603-224-2381

Thomas J. Cafferty, Esquire
Nomi I. Lowy, Esquire
Lauren James-Weir, Esquire
Gibbons P.C.
One Gateway Center
Newark, NJ 07102-5310
Direct: 973-596-4863 Fax: 973-639-6267
tcafferty@gibbonslaw.com
nlowy@gibbonslaw.com
ljames-weir@gibbonslaw.com
Special thanks to the original author of this chapter, Arlene M. Turinchak, Esq.

Last updated September 2021

Charles K. Purcell
Rodey, Dickason, Sloan, Akin & Robb, P.A.
P.O. Box 1888
Albuquerque, N.M. 87103
505-768-7217

Special thanks to William S. Dixon, who co-authored a previous version of this chapter and passed away in 2003.

Last updated August 18, 2021

Special thanks to Mark O’Connell at SmithDehn LLP and Alyssa Morones, a student at UCLA School of Law, class of 2021, who helped update this chapter in 2019, and to the original guide authors, Laura R. Handman, Peter Karanjia, Bryan M. Tallevi, and Elisa L. Krall of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP.

Last updated July 2019

Marcus W. Trathen
Amanda M. Whorton
Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, L.L.P.
Post Office Box 1800
Suite 1700, Wells Fargo Capitol Center
150 Fayetteville Street (zip 27601)
Raleigh, North Carolina 27602
(919) 839-0300 (telephone)
(919) 839-0304 (fax)

Special thanks to our colleagues Mark Prak and John Bussian for their review of this manuscript

Steve Johnson
Vogel Law Firm
P.O. Box 1389
Fargo, ND 58107
701-237-6983

Monica L. Dias, Esq.
Frost Brown Todd LLC
3300 Great American Tower
301 East Fourth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
513-651-6783
mdias@fbtlaw.com

Last updated June 2024

Robert D. Nelon
Jon Epstein
Lindsay N. Kistler
Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable
Golden & Nelson
100 North Broadway, Suite 2900
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Telephone (405) 553-2828
Facsimile (405) 553-2855
E-mail: bnelon@hallestill.com

Duane A. Bosworth, Esq.
Derek D. Green, Esq.
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
1300 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 2400
Portland, Oregon 97201
(503) 241-2300 (Telephone)
(503) 778-5299 (Fax)
duanebosworth@dwt.com
derekgreen@dwt.com

Last updated June 2019

Michael Berry
John Scott
Ballard Spahr LLP
1735 Market Street, 51st Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215.665.8500
berrym@ballardspahr.com
scottj@ballardspahr.com

Originally written by Robert C. Clothier, currently Vice President and General Counsel of Urisinus College (last updated by Mr. Clothier in 2007).

Last updated August 31, 2021

Updated by RCFP staff from an earlier edition by Joseph V. Cavanagh, Jr., Staci L. Kolb, Blish & Cavanagh, LLP, Providence, Rhode Island

Jay Bender
Baker, Ravenel & Bender, L.L.P.
PO Box 8057
3710 Landmark Drive, Suite 400
Columbia, South Carolina
(803) 799-9091

 

Updated by Taylor Smith (though no updating was necessary)

Jon Arneson
123 S. Main St., Suite 202
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 335-0083

Note: On March 8, 2019, South Dakota enacted a shield law, which protects journalists from revealing privileged sources and information.  This chapter is in the process of being updated accordingly.

Lucian T. Pera
Adams and Reese LLP
Crescent Center

6075 Poplar Avenue, Suite 700

Memphis, TN 38119-0100

Tel: 901-524-5278

Fax: 901-524-5378

Last updated October 2018

Laura Lee Prather
Catherine L. Robb

Haynes and Boone, LLP
600 Congress Avenue, Suite 1300
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 867-8400

Special thanks to Robert P. Latham and Daniel Scardino, Jackson Walker L.L.P., who wrote the pre-shield law edition of this work.

Last updated July 2021

Jeffrey J. Hunt, Esq.
David C. Reymann, Esq.
Michael S. Anderson, Esq.
Parr Brown Gee & Loveless
185 S. State St. #1300
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
jhunt@parrbrown.com
dreymann@parrbrown.com
manderson@parrbrown.com
Tel.: (801) 532-7840
Fax: (801) 532-7750

Updated June 2025

Robert B. Hemley, Esq.
Erin M. Moore, Esq.
Gravel and Shea
76 St. Paul Street, 7th Floor
P.O. Box 369
Burlington, VT 05402-0369
(802) 658-0220
www.gravelshea.com
rhemley@gravelshea.com
emoore@gravelshea.com

Last updated July 2019

Brett Spain
Willcox & Savage, P.C.
440 Monticello Ave., Ste. 2200
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
(757) 628-5500

Bethany Fogerty
Willcox & Savage, P.C.
440 Monticello Ave., Ste. 2200
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
(757) 628-5500

Last updated Sept. 10, 2024

Bruce E. H. Johnson
Eric M. Stahl
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Seattle, Wash.
brucejohnson@dwt.com
ericstahl@dwt.com

Last updated June 14, 2019

Sean McGinley
DiTrapano Barrett DiPiero McGinley & Simmons, PLLC
P.O. Box 1631
Charleston, WV 25326-1631
304-342-0133

http://www.dbdlawfirm.com

James A. Friedman and Maxted Lenz
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
One East Main Street, Suite 500
P.O. Box 2719
Madison, WI 53701-2719
Phone: 608-257-3911
Fax: 608-257-0609

Last updated September 2020

Bruce T. Moats
Law Office of Bruce T. Moats
2515 Pioneer Avenue
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001