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Wisconsin lawmakers introduce shield law

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  1. Protecting Sources and Materials
Two Wisconsin lawmakers have introduced a shield law in the legislature, The Associated Press reports. State Sen. Pat Kreitlow --…

Two Wisconsin lawmakers have introduced a shield law in the legislature, The Associated Press reports. State Sen. Pat Kreitlow — a former television and radio reporter — and Rep. Joe Parisi are co-sponsoring a bill that would give journalists a qualified privilege to avoid testifying about their sources.

Judges could still order reporters to testify when the information is "highly relevant" to the case or one of the party’s claims, the AP reports.

Journalists in Wisconsin already have a privilege based on past court cases. The proposal would put that privilege into the state code and give guidance to judges seeking to apply it, the AP reports.

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