Opinion ID: 2545831
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Our decision disapproving Hallissy

Text: In May 1990, before trial began in this case, this court decided Delaney v. Superior Court (1990) 50 Cal.3d 785, 268 Cal. Rptr. 753, 789 P.2d 934 (Delaney ), and addressed several issues pertaining to the newsperson's shield law. Notably, Delaney adopted a different and less onerous test for a criminal defendant's discovery of information covered by the shield law than the one set out in Hammarley, supra, 89 Cal.App.3d 388, 153 Cal.Rptr. 608, and reiterated by the Court of Appeal in Hallissy, supra, 200 Cal.App.3d at page 1046, 248 Cal.Rptr. 635 when discussing the motion in defendant's case. Delaney states: First, the burden is on the criminal defendant to make the required showing. [Citation.] Second, the defendant's showing need not be detailed or specific, but it must rest on more than mere speculation. Third, the defendant need not show a reasonable possibility the information will lead to his exoneration. He need show only a reasonable possibility the information will materially assist his defense. ( Delaney, supra, 50 Cal.3d at p. 809, 268 Cal.Rptr. 753, 789 P.2d 934, second italics omitted.) In addition, Delaney rejected a universal and inflexible alternative-source requirement in criminal cases, and specifically disapproved contrary suggestions in Hammarley, supra, 89 Cal.App.3d at page 399, 153 Cal.Rptr. 608, and Hallissy, supra, 200 Cal.App.3d at page 1046, 248 Cal. Rptr. 635, on that point. ( Delaney, supra, 50 Cal.3d at p. 812, 268 Cal.Rptr. 753, 789 P.2d 934; id. at p. 813 & fn. 29, 268 Cal.Rptr. 753, 789 P.2d 934.) Finally, in discussing the interests to be protected by the shield law, Delaney observed that some circumstances may, as a practical matter, render moot the need to avoid disclosure, and gave as an example a situation in which the criminal defendant seeking disclosure is himself the source of the information, [when] it cannot be seriously argued the source (the defendant) will feel that his confidence has been breached. ( Delaney, supra, 50 Cal.3d at p. 810, 268 Cal.Rptr. 753, 789 P.2d 934, italics added.) In a footnote, Delaney made a specific reference to this case, stating: Such was the situation in Hallissy v. Superior Court, supra, 200 Cal. App.3d 1038, 248 Cal.Rptr. 635. A reporter published a story based on an interview with a criminal defendant that led to additional charges being filed against him. He sought to question the reporter to show the published statements were inconsistent with other statements the defendant had made to the reporter. The trial court correctly noted that `The source of the information is the very person who is seeking full disclosure.' (Id. at p. 1042, 248 Cal.Rptr. 635.) The Court of Appeal, however, paid no heed to this circumstance in reversing the order of contempt against the reporter. As explained above, such circumstance is significant. We disapprove Hallissy to the extent it did not consider the fact that the party seeking disclosure was the source of the unpublished information. ( Delaney, supra, at pp. 810-811, fn. 27, 268 Cal.Rptr. 753, 789 P.2d 934.) Thus, this court's decision in Delaney, supra, 50 Cal.3d 785, 268 Cal.Rptr. 753, 789 P.2d 934, rejected the Court of Appeal's analysis in Hallissy, supra, 200 Cal. App.3d 1038, 248 Cal.Rptr. 635, for three key reasons: First, Hallissy concluded that defendant had to but failed to show the reporter's unpublished notes would lead to his exoneration (id at p. 1046, 248 Cal.Rptr. 635), whereas Delaney held a defendant need only show a reasonable possibility the information will materially assist his defense (Delaney, at p. 809, 268 Cal.Rptr. 753, 789 P.2d 934, italics omitted). Second, Hallissy determined that defendant failed to show that the information he seeks is not available from a source less intrusive upon the privilege (Hallissy, at p. 1046, 248 Cal.Rptr. 635), but Delaney held there was no universal and inflexible alternative source requirement (Delaney, at p. 812, 268 Cal.Rptr. 753, 789 P.2d 934). Third, Hallissy ignored the fact that defendant was the source of the information he sought, whereas Delaney held that this circumstance may, as a practical matter, render moot the need to avoid disclosure (Delaney, at p. 810, 268 Cal.Rptr. 753, 789 P.2d 934).