The Hattiesburg, Ms., American newspaper and The Associated Press have sued the U.S. Marshals Service for violating reporters’ constitutional rights, the American reports. The lawsuit stems from an April 7 speech at Presbyterian Christian High School by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. A deputy marshal seized tape recordings of the speech from American reporter Antoinette Konz and The Associated Press’ Denise Grones.
Luther Munford, an attorney representing the American and AP, said the news organizations are seeking “a judgment that tells the U.S. Marshals Service and, in effect, other law enforcement agencies, not to do this again.”
Scalia later apologized, but the marshals service did not. Associated Press lawyer Dave Tomlin said that, “People who enforce the law should know what the law is, and especially the basic law that says citizens can’t be shaken down by their own government.”
Link: http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/news/stories/20040510/localnews/391318.html