Petition for the Promulgation of Rules

By the Court.

The Governor’s Press Shield Law Task Force (task force) 1 has petitioned this court to adopt rules providing for a qualified evidentiary privilege to protect news reporters and others from the forced disclosure of confidential sources and unpublished information. After the petition was filed, we invited comment and heard oral argument by interested parties on the issues raised by the petition. 2 We decide that, assuming this court has the power to establish by rule a reporter’s privilege, the exercise of that power is not warranted in the present circumstances.

In April, 1983, the…