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Home > Oregon v. Lewis

Oregon v. Lewis [1]

Submitted by Arthur Bright on Wed, 07/16/2008 - 19:59

Summary

Threat Type: 

Subpoena

Date: 

07/01/2008

Status: 

Concluded

Disposition: 

Withdrawn

Location: 

Oregon

Verdict or Settlement Amount: 

N/A

Legal Claims: 

None
Independent videographer Tim Lewis refused to comply with a Lane County, Oregon, grand jury subpoena for video he filmed of a May 30, 2008, incident where police tasered Ian Van Ornum, a student protester.  Lewis argued that Oregon's reporter shield law, ... read full description
Parties

Party Receiving Legal Threat: 

Tim Lewis

Type of Party: 

Government

Type of Party: 

Individual

Location of Party: 

  • Oregon

Location of Party: 

  • Oregon

Legal Counsel: 

Lane County District Attorney Doug Harcleroad
Description

Independent videographer Tim Lewis refused to comply with a Lane County, Oregon, grand jury subpoena for video he filmed of a May 30, 2008, incident where police tasered Ian Van Ornum, a student protester.  Lewis argued that Oregon's reporter shield law, Or. Rev. Stat. § 44.520 [2],  protects him from compelled disclosure of his newsgathering materials.

The grand jury planned to examine the video to determine whether Van Ornum, or any other people attending the anti-pesticide protest he was attending, should face criminal charges.  Lewis, who edited and posted the video to YouTube [3], said the tape contained very little information that would be useful to the grand jury, as he didn't begin to record events until after Van Ornum had been tasered. Nonetheless, he refused to surrender the tape because he "can't set a precedent by giving it to them," according to The Register-Guard [4].

Update:

7/15/2008 - After Lewis, with aid from the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, filed documents in court invoking the shield law, the District Attorney's office withdrew the subpoena, reports The Register Guard [5].

Related Links: 

  • The Register-Guard: Activist claims he won’t give up tape [4]
  • The Register-Guard: Quash this subpoena [6] (editorial)
  • KVAL: Police use of Taser prompts new complaint, legal confrontation [7]
  • The Register-Guard: Activist wins fight over video of protest [5]
  • Reporters Committee For Freedom of the Press: Ore. activist won't have to give grand jury tape of rally arrest [8]
  • PictureEugene [9] (Lewis' YouTube channel)
  • CMLP: Citizen Journalist Invokes Oregon Shield Law to Fight Subpoena [10]
Details

Web Site(s) Involved: 

YouTube: Picture Eugene - Tasered [3]

Content Type: 

  • Video

Publication Medium: 

Website

Subject Area: 

  • Shield Laws
  • Newsgathering
  • Subpoenas
Court Information & Documents

Jurisdiction: 

  • Oregon

Source of Law: 

  • Oregon

Court Name: 

Oregon District Court, Lane County

Court Type: 

State
CMLP Information (Private)

Threat Source: 

RSS

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Source URL (modified on 08/20/2014 - 11:07pm): https://www.dmlp.org/threats/oregon-v-lewis

Links
[1] https://www.dmlp.org/threats/oregon-v-lewis
[2] http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/044.html
[3] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gr4RsI2V6Y
[4] http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=123584&sid=4&fid=1
[5] http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=124145&sid=1&fid=1
[6] http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=123949&sid=5&fid=2
[7] http://www.kval.com/news/24387814.html
[8] http://www.rcfp.org/newsitems/index.php?i=6863
[9] http://www.youtube.com/PictureEugene
[10] https://www.dmlp.org/blog/2008/citizen-journalist-invokes-oregon-shield-law-fight-subpoena