Subpoena/Legal Order

Total Incidents: 243

Pending subpoenas

11

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Subpoenas upheld by judges

7

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Journalists subpoenaed to identify a confidential source

28

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Warrants issued targeting journalists

29

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Telecom companies subpoenaed for journalists’ records

13

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Tech companies subpoenaed for journalists’ records

13

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Data Tracked For This Category

Subpoenas or legal orders requiring journalists to testify in court or produce journalistic records or work product. This category also includes orders targeted at third parties who have access to journalistic records or work product. Because many subpoenas are not publicly reported and legal orders for journalist records are conducted with high levels of secrecy, the numbers in this category are likely to underestimate actual cases.

Recent Incidents

Reporter arrested, phone confiscated while covering NC homeless camp eviction
Updated on

March 22, 2024

Date of Incident

December 25, 2021

Location

Asheville, North Carolina

Targets

Matilda Bliss (The Asheville Blade)
- #encampment
Texas journalist files suit following arrest, equipment seizure
Updated on

May 15, 2024

Date of Incident

December 21, 2021

Location

Damon, Texas

Targets

Justin Pulliam (Independent)
Former BuzzFeed reporter ordered to submit documents in lawsuit against Kevin Spacey
1. Subpoena/Legal Order
Date of Incident

December 6, 2021

Location

New York, New York

Targets

Adam Vary (BuzzFeed News)
Photojournalist arrested, equipment seized while documenting homeless encampment
Updated on

July 23, 2024

Date of Incident

November 30, 2021

Location

Sausalito, California

Targets

Jeremy Portje (Freelance)
- #encampment
Freelance journalist sues following House Committee’s subpoena of her phone records
1. Subpoena/Legal Order
Updated on

December 5, 2022

Date of Incident

November 24, 2021

Location

Washington, District of Columbia

Targets

Amy Harris (Freelance)
Podcast producers release unaired materials after subpoena upheld
1. Subpoena/Legal Order
Date of Incident

November 18, 2021

Location

San Diego, California

Targets

Audiation
- #military
Family Court judge quashes subpoena issued to former Honolulu Civil Beat reporter
1. Subpoena/Legal Order
Date of Incident

November 17, 2021

Location

Kapolei, Hawaii

Targets

Kevin Knodell (Honolulu Civil Beat)
Project Veritas founder detained, phones seized amid FBI raid of his home
Updated on

December 21, 2023

Date of Incident

November 6, 2021

Location

Mamaroneck, New York

Targets

James O'Keefe (Project Veritas)
- #Department of Justice

Go to Incidents Database

Articles About Subpoena/Legal Order

It’s about Fox News, sure, but election 2020 subpoenas seek to unravel fraudulent claims

Incidents so far this year as documented by the US Press Freedom Tracker

Published

April 28, 2023

Written by

Kirstin McCudden
More than a dozen journalists subpoenaed so far this year

Published

July 29, 2022

Written by

Kirstin McCudden
Another record year for press freedom violations in the US

Published

January 12, 2022

Written by

Kirstin McCudden

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Arrest/Criminal Charge Assault Border Stop Chilling Statement Denial of Access Equipment Damage Equipment Search or Seizure Leak Case Prior Restraint Subpoena/Legal Order Other Incident