BREAKING NEWS - Your Information is Protected Here

LIBERTY, October 9, 2009 - On Tuesday October 6, 2009 I (Allen Youngblood) was served with a subpoena by attorneys for Phil Fitzgerald, Barbara Norwood demanding that I produce broad amounts of information from my work as a journalist for i-dineout.com.

The information requested included confidential records, e-mails, digital audio recordings as well as the identities of individuals submitting FEEDBACK REPLIES concerning embattled County Judge Phil Fitzgerald.

My attorneys went to work on October 7, 2009 to immediately preparing a motion to quash the subpoena and filed that motion with the 75th District Court Friday afternoon.

Additionally all attorneys involved in this case were served by Facsimile including Liberty Attorney Barbara Norwood representing Phil Fitzgerald.

Late Friday afternoon my attorneys were notified that Norwood was withdrawing the subpoena prior to proceedings scheduled at 9:00 AM on this coming Monday morning before Judge C. T. “Rusty” Hight in the 75th District Court.

Of the many arguments in the motion to quash the subpoena was that I assert my rights as a journalist and that the information requested in the subpoena is both privileged and protected according to the Texas Shield Law enacted in May of this year.

This law protects journalists from the unreasonable requests to turn over confidential information and sources.

Rights, written into law to protect all of us are on the books. However, those rights must constantly be defended against those who would take those rights from us. If not defended then they are lost to everyone.

I wish to thank my attorney, Gerald Hoseman of Liberty, TX. who’s brilliant work on my behalf defended my rights as a journalist. Secondly I wish to thank the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and their lawyer Jim Hemphill of Austin, TX who provided valuable legal research. All Texans owe a great deal of thanks to Texas Democrat Senator Rodney Ellis who sponsored the Texas Shield Law in the Texas Legislature and was instrumental in its’ passage.

Rest assured that your information on i-dineout.com is protected.

Allen Youngblood

NOTE: Although many people and journalists refer to HB 607 at the Texas Shield Law, it is actually called the Free Flow of Information Bill. Shield Law is the legislations common name.

See related documents. View the subpeona issued to Allen Youngblood below:

Subpeona page 1

Subpeona page 2

Subpeona page 3