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2009-06-10 - 10:44 p.m.

I watched a fabulous movie tonight, Nothing But the Truth which was inspired by the real life story of the NY Times Journalist who was thrown in jail for contempt of court in 2005 for refusing to reveal her source.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2005/jul/07/pressandpublishing.usnews


I couldn't help but be reminded of when I was ordered to be in contempt when I blurted out a truth in court, out of turn, in an impulsive response to hearing a lie when very upset (An act which ironically made outside of court falls under a heresay exception of the "Excited Utterance" because when one blurts out something in response to being highly upset it is see as credible.)

The truth wasn't what was paramount in that proceeding. I believe in our courts respect and following law and process and power is given greater value than truth.

The movie's depicteion of the use of the contempt order to intimidate and try to break down one who is holding fast to a principle was just brilliant. It showed the strength lof character of one who would risk losing much in order to uphold their value of honesty and integrity.

I rellly enjoyed this movie! The title is fabulous. At its peak is the argument delivered by Alan Alda:

"In 1972 in Branzburg v. Hayes this Court ruled against the right of reporters to withhold the names of their sources before a grand jury, and it gave the power to the government to imprison those reporters who did. It was a 5-4 decision, close. In his dissent in Branzburg, Justice Stewart said, 'As the years pass, the power of government becomes more and more pervasive. Those in power,' he said, 'whatever their politics, want only to perpetuate it, and the people are the victims.' Well, the years have passed, and that power is pervasive. Mrs. Armstrong could have buckled to the demands of the government. She could've abandoned her promise of confidentiality. She could've simply gone home to her family. But to do so would mean that no source would ever speak to her again, and no source would ever speak to her newspaper again. And then tomorrow, when we lock up journalists from other newspapers, we'll make those publications irrelevant as well, and thus we'll make the First Amendment irrelevant. And then how will we know if a President has covered up crimes or if an army officer has condoned torture? We as a nation will no longer be able to hold those in power accountable to those whom they have power over, and what then is the nature of government when it has no fear of accountability? We should shudder at the thought. Imprisoning journalists: that's for other countries, that's for countries who fear their citizens, not countries that cherish and protect them. Some time ago, I began to feel the personal, human pressure on Rachel Armstrong, and I told her that I was there to represent her and not her principle. And it was not until I met her that I realized that with great people, there's no difference between principle and the person."

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