Northwestern U. fights subpoena for grades of journalism students in the Medill Innocence Project

[Bozita]

http://www.ksro.com/news/article.aspx?id=1780174

1/11/2010 6:50 PM
Northwestern University fights subpoena for grades

News organizations, including The Associated Press, the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times, filed court papers Monday supporting Northwestern University's fight of a subpoena seeking the grades of journalism students who believe they've found an innocent man in prison.

Prosecutors are seeking grades, grading criteria and class records because they contend the students may have been motivated to find evidence of Anthony McKinney's innocence to get better grades. McKinney is serving a life sentence for the 1978 murder of a security guard and is seeking a new trial.

Northwestern University's attorneys filed a brief Monday asking Cook County Circuit Judge Diane Cannon to throw out the subpoena.

The media outlets also filed a brief, arguing that student journalists are entitled to the same protections as working reporters. The Student Press Law Center and the Society of Professional Journalists filed a similar brief.

Prosecutors have claimed the journalism students paid two witnesses in order to make their case that McKinney was wrongly convicted.

In Monday's filing, Northwestern's attorneys reiterated that the alleged bribe was instead cab fare.

The students were involved in the Medill Innocence Project in which they investigated cases leading to convictions.

The newspapers and broadcasters filing the brief Monday included Hearst Corp., the New York Times Co., CBS Broadcasting and the Washington Post.

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[Bozita]

1. Wondering if prosecutors have ever been motivated to find evidence of guilt to further a career?