Reporters Committee releases report on Judge Garland's decisions

The Reporters Committee has released a summary of Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland's decisions as an appellate judge that concern the First Amendment and Freedom of Information Act.

Some of the key cases that affect journalists include the subpoena battle over scientist Wen Ho Lee's Privacy Act suit, the publication of recorded phone calls (and subsequent publication by the New York Times) concerning ethics violations by Newt Gingrich, and FOIA controversies involving military drones, cell phone location data, White House visitor logs and Princess Diana.

"During his long service on the appellate court, Judge Garland took strong stands in two significant dissents in support of a robust reporter's privilege and a First Amendment defense to publishing lawfully obtained information," the report finds. "His decisions in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cases did not always favor openness, but generally show a commitment to government accountability."

The report is available on the Reporters Committee's website.