Fox News reporter won't be forced to reveal confidential sources about theater shooting

WASHINGTON, May 27 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court rejected efforts by lawyers for mass shooter James Holmes to force a FoxNews.com reporter to reveal her confidential sources or go to jail.

Holmes is charged with killing 12 people in a Colorado movie theater during a screening of The Dark Knight Rises. Fox News' Jana Winter reported that Holmes sent his psychiatrist a notebook with violent writings and imagery, information Holmes' attorneys say violated a gag order in place at the time.

When Winter, who works out of New York, published the information, prosecutors in Colorado issued a subpoena compelling her to appear in the state to reveal her sources. New York State has very strict shield laws for journalists, and issued a court order refusing to force her to comply with the state's requests, which Holmes' lawyers unsuccessfully appealed to the Supreme Court.

Fox News issued a statement supporting the decision and praising the court's prioritization of free speech:

"We're pleased that the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of free speech today. The Court made it clear that Jana Winter can never be compelled to testify in Colorado, and that all New York-based journalists and media companies can rely on New York's strong shield law when they are covering news across the country.: