New York state's Court of Appeals reversed a lower court's decision tht could have resulted in FoxNews' Jana Winter being forced to appear in the Colorado murder trial of Aurora Colorado murder trial of James Holmes, Foxnews.com reported.
The court spared Winter "from jail for refusing to reveal confidential sources for her bombshell story after the massacre," according to Foxnews.com.
"An order from a New York court directing a reporter to appear in another state where, as here, there is a substantial likelihood that she will be compelled to identify sources who have been promised confidentiality would offend our strong public policy," the decision read.
The court's ruling "spares Winter from appearing before Arapahoe County District Judge Carlos Samour Jr. on January 3, where should would have been ordered to reveal who told her about a ... notebook gunman James Holmes sent to his psychiatrist before the shooting in July 2012," Foxnews.com reported.
Winter's "exclusive story on July 25, 2012 was picked up by news outlets around the world. Winter had steadfastly vowed that she would go to jail rather than reveal her sources for the story," according to Foxnews.com.
"Today's ruling is a major win for all journalists. The protection of Jana Winter's confidential sources was necessary for the survival of journalism and democracy as a whole. We are very grateful that the highest court in New York State agreed with our position," said Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes.
Dori Ann Hanswirth, Winter's lead attorney said that "confidential newsgathering is essential for investigative journalism to flourish and the New York Cout of appeals has issued a broad decision protecting all New York-based journalists. Today's victory is as much for Jana Winter as it is for all journalists and the public, which has a right to receive news from confidential sources."
