SEATTLE, Wash. — A judge has ruled that five Seattle news outlets must comply with a subpoena and give the Seattle Police Department unpublished video and photos from a May 30 racial justice protest, siding with the Police Department in a Thursday hearing.
Superior Court Judge Nelson Lee found that the photos and video were critical for an investigation into the alleged arson of police vehicles and theft of police guns.
He says the news organizations were not protected by a Washington state shield law that under many circumstances prevents authorities from obtaining reporters’ unpublished materials.
Meantime, a federal judge has ruled that he will allow a recent ordinance approved by the Seattle City Council that bars police from using tear gas, pepper spray and other crowd control devices to go into effect on Sunday, reserving the right to reconsider the matter after attorneys involved in the case submit briefs arguing their case.