Veteran journalist Catherine Herridge has petitioned the US Supreme Court after being found in contempt of court in 2024 for refusing to disclose her sources. She faces an $800 daily fine, which was previously paid for 18 days this summer before being put on hold by Judge Christopher R Cooper.
The fine is related to Herridge's 2017 stories about Chinese-American scientist Yanping Chen, who was federally investigated but not charged. Chen filed a lawsuit in 2018 against government agencies, alleging unlawful disclosure of her personal information to Herridge.
Herridge's former employer, Fox News, is covering her legal representation. Press freedom organisations have expressed concern about the case, with Seth Stern of Freedom of the Press Foundation stating that reporter-source confidentiality is "the lifeblood of investigative journalism."
If her Supreme Court petition is unsuccessful, Herridge will be liable for the daily fines until she reveals her sources. She stated that disclosing her sources would end her career, adding that the case is important for future generations of journalists.