Branzburg v. Hayes

Branzburg v. Hayes (1972) was a Supreme Court case that addressed whether journalists have a First Amendment right to refuse to reveal confidential sources or information in court. The Court ruled that journalists do not have an absolute privilege and can be compelled to testify if the information is necessary and relevant to a case. This decision balanced the free speech rights of the press with the government's interest in law enforcement. Essentially, it established that while protecting journalistic sources is important, it is not an unlimited right, especially in criminal investigations.