United States DC Circuit

The district court did not abuse its discretion in holding plaintiff-journalists in contempt of court for refusing to answer questions regarding confidential sources in a non-party deposition in a civil case.

Appellate Information

• Argued 05/09/2005
• Decided 06/28/2005
• Published 06/28/2005

Judges

• SENTELLE, Circuit Judge., Before:  SENTELLE, RANDOLPH and ROGERS, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States DC Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Floyd Abrams argued the cause for appellant Jeff Gerth and James Risen.   With him on the briefs was Joel Kurtzberg., Lee Levine argued the cause for appellant H. Josef Hebert and Bob Drogin.   With him on the briefs were Nathan E. Siegel, Chad R. Bowman, and David A. Schulz.  Seth D. Berlin entered an appearance., Charles D. Tobin argued the cause for appellant Pierre Thomas.   With him on the briefs was Ethan Arenson., Paul M. Smith, Katherine A. Fallow, Lucy A. Dalglish, and Gregg P. Leslie were on the brief for amici curiae Magazine Publishers of America, Inc., et al. in support of appellants urging reversal.  Kevin Hardy and Kevin T. Baine entered appearances.


• For Appellees:
  
• Brian A. Sun argued the cause for appellee.   With him on the brief were Betsy A. Miller, Christopher Lovrien, David J. Schenck, and David L. Horan., Mark A. Grannis and Thomas G. Connolly were on the brief for amicus curiae Steven J. Hatfill in support of appellee.