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Disclosure of Journalists' Sources, Civil Disobedience and the Rule of Law

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 January 2009

T.R.S. Allan
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Extract

In what circumstances, and under what conditions, should a journalist be obliged by law to divulge the identity of the source of information contained in a published article—when anonymity may have been promised the source, or receipt of information in the future may be thought to depend on the preservation of anonymity now? Section 10 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 provides a framework for determining an answer to that controversial question, as it arises in particular cases before the courts:

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Articles
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The Cambridge Law Journal , Volume 50 , Issue 1 , March 1991 , pp. 131 - 162
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge Law Journal and Contributors 1991

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References

1 Secretary of State for Defence v. Guardian Newspapers [1985] A.C. 339, 345, 361, 369.

2 X v. Morgan-Grampian [1990] 2 W.L.R. 421 (C.A.), 437.Google Scholar

3 [1963] 1 Q.B. 773.

4 [1963] 2 Q.B. 477.

5 Ibid., 489–90.

6 [1981] A.C. 1096.

7 Norwich Pharmacal v. Customs and Excise Commissioners [1974] A.C. 133.

8 [1981] A.C. 1096, 1169.

9 Ibid., 1138–1139.

10 Ibid., 1136.

11 Guardian case [1985] A.C. 339, 361.

12 Ibid., 347.

13 Ibid., 349–350.

14 [1990] 2 W.L.R. 1000 (H.L.), 1013–4.

15 By ‘positivism’ I mean primarily theories of law which emphasise authority rather than reason, as a source of legal obligation; and which accordingly insist on a clear separation between legal and moral or political reasoning.

16 [1990] 2 W.L.R. 421 (C.A.), 429.

17 Ibid., 432.

18 A Matter of Principle (1985), pp. 106–113.Google Scholar

19 [1990] 2 W.L.R. 421 (C.A.), 430.

20 [1990] 2 W.L.R. 1000 (H.L.), 1013

21 Ibid.

22 [1990] 2 W.L.R. 421 (C.A.), 430.

23 Guardian case [1985] A.C. 339, 350.

24 [1990] 2 W.L.R. 1000 (H.L.), 1009.

25 Ibid., 1019.

26 Ibid., 1009–1010.

27 [1985] A.C. 339, 350.

28 Ibid., 361.

29 Morgan-Grampian case [1990] 2 W.L.R. 1000 (H.L.), 1009 (Lord Bridge).

30 [1981] A.C. 1096, 1173.

31 Ibid., 1184.

32 Ibid., 1203 (emphasis added).

33 Sub nom. Re Goodwin [1990] 1 All E.R. 608, 614.

34 Morgan-Grampian case [19901 2 W.L.R. 1000 (H.L.), 1018.

35 Ibid., 1016.

36 Discretionary Powers (1986), p. 21.Google Scholar

37 Ibid., p. 22.

38 See Dworkin, Ronald, Taking Rights Seriously (1977), Ch. 4; Law's Empire (1986), Ch. 7.Google Scholar

39 [1957] A.C. 288.

40 Waterside Workers' Federation of Australia v. Alexander (1918) 25 C.L.R. 434,463–464.

41 [1978] A.C. 171.

42 Ibid., 225.

43 Rogers v. Secretary of State for the Home Dept. [1973] A.C. 388.

44 [1938] A.C. 1, 23.

45 A Matter of Principle, Ch. 3.

46 Ibid., p. 95.

47 Ibid., p. 96.

48 Ibid., p. 97.

49 See Air Canada v. Secretary of State for Trade [1983] 2 A.C. 394.

50 Supra, n. 14.

51 [1985] A.C. 339, 359 (Lord Fraser).

52 See Dworkin, Ronald, Taking Rights Seriously (1977), Ch. 2.Google Scholar

53 [1981] A.C. 1096, 1174.

54 Ibid.

55 [1990] 2 W.L.R. 421 (C.A.), 440 (latter emphasis mine).

55 Ibid., 629.

57 [1990] 2 W.L.R. 1000 (H.L.), 1018.

58 [1980] A.C. 1028, 1067.

59 Re an Inquiry under the Company Securities (Insider Dealing) Act 1985 [1988] A.C. 660, 704.

60 Lucas, J. R., The Principles of Politics (1966), p. 107.Google Scholar

61 [1990] 2 W.L.R. 1000 (H.L.), 1016.

62 Ibid.

63 Fontana Press (1986).

64 Ibid., p. 346.

65 Supra, nn. 41 & 43.

66 The Unity of Law and Morality (1984), Ch. 4.

67 [1985] A.C. 339, 349.

68 Detmold, , op. cit., p. 95.Google Scholar

69 Ibid., p. 90.