shield law
noun
: a law that protects journalists from forced disclosure of confidential news sources
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web However, thanks to Connecticut’s shield law, Connecticut officers will not investigate or arrest Connecticut residents who help Texans get abortions. 
Lindsay Beyerstein, The New Republic, 2 Aug. 2022 Connecticut, under Democratic Governor Ned Lamont, is leading the nation with its shield law, designed to neutralize the bounty laws. Lindsay Beyerstein, The New Republic, 2 Aug. 2022 The decision is the second this month to broadly shield law enforcement officers from being sued. Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2022 In 2019, the Texas Legislature unanimously passed such a shield law there that had been championed by Bart Barber, a Farmersville, Texas, pastor and the convention's incoming president. Frank E. Lockwood, Arkansas Online, 16 June 2022 The settlement could provide a framework for future cases against gun manufacturers, which have enjoyed broad legal protections under a federal shield law. Aaron Gregg, Washington Post, 26 May 2022 Glasser said that under the state’s reporter’s shield law, Tchekmedyian could not be compelled to reveal her sources and investigators were barred from obtaining search warrants aimed at Tchekmedyian. Harriet Ryan, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2022 The seizure had appeared to signal a clash over the scope of California’s shield law, which allows journalists to refuse to disclose the sources of their information and withhold unpublished materials. Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Dec. 2021 Connecticut’s shield law is weak, said Kay, a constitutional law expert. Rebecca Lurye, courant.com, 1 Sep. 2021 See More
Lindsay Beyerstein, The New Republic, 2 Aug. 2022 Connecticut, under Democratic Governor Ned Lamont, is leading the nation with its shield law, designed to neutralize the bounty laws. Lindsay Beyerstein, The New Republic, 2 Aug. 2022 The decision is the second this month to broadly shield law enforcement officers from being sued. Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2022 In 2019, the Texas Legislature unanimously passed such a shield law there that had been championed by Bart Barber, a Farmersville, Texas, pastor and the convention's incoming president. Frank E. Lockwood, Arkansas Online, 16 June 2022 The settlement could provide a framework for future cases against gun manufacturers, which have enjoyed broad legal protections under a federal shield law. Aaron Gregg, Washington Post, 26 May 2022 Glasser said that under the state’s reporter’s shield law, Tchekmedyian could not be compelled to reveal her sources and investigators were barred from obtaining search warrants aimed at Tchekmedyian. Harriet Ryan, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2022 The seizure had appeared to signal a clash over the scope of California’s shield law, which allows journalists to refuse to disclose the sources of their information and withhold unpublished materials. Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Dec. 2021 Connecticut’s shield law is weak, said Kay, a constitutional law expert. Rebecca Lurye, courant.com, 1 Sep. 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
1971, in the meaning defined above
Legal Definition
shield law
noun
: a law that prevents or protects against disclosure or revelation of information: as
a
: rape shield law
b
: a law that protects journalists from disclosure of confidential news sources