Investigative journalist Catherine Herridge has made a final bid to the US Supreme Court to block a contempt ruling that would force her to reveal confidential sources or pay $800 per day. The penalty stems from a series of stories she wrote for Fox News in 2017.
A district court judge first held Herridge in civil contempt over two years ago, an unusual move against a reporter. Since then, the case has languished in appeals, with Herridge losing at every turn. On Tuesday, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals rejected her latest plea with a one-sentence order.
The fine, originally imposed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper in February 2024, accumulates daily as long as Herridge refuses to comply. The case has become a flashpoint for press freedom advocates who argue that compelling source disclosure chills investigative journalism.
The Supreme Court now holds Herridge's fate. If it declines to hear the case or rules against her, she faces indefinite daily penalties. Legal experts say the high court rarely intervenes in contempt disputes, making the outcome uncertain.
Critics counter that source protections are not absolute, especially when national security or ongoing litigation is at stake, and that journalists must sometimes face consequences for withholding information.