The Atlanta Journal-Constitution must identify law enforcement officials who were sources for articles about Richard Jewell and the Centennial Olympic Park bombing, a judge ruled.
Fulton County State Court Judge John Mather wrote in his order, signed Wednesday, that state law does not grant privilege to reporters being sued for libel. Mather also rejected the newspapers' claim that forcing the disclosure would violate the First Amendment."We are obviously elated by the ruling. It's a major decision and a big win," said Jewell's attorney Lin Wood.
The newspapers plan to challenge the decision, attorney Peter Canfield said. "It is highly unusual to compel reporters to identify confidential law enforcement sources," Canfield said.