State to pay legal fees for student newspaper

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http://www2.newsvirginian.com/wnv/news/local/article/jmu_newspaper_to_provide_photos_state_to_cover_legal_fees/56791/|State to pay legal fees for student newspaper>

By Bob Stuart
Published: June 1, 2010
Updated: June 1, 2010

HARRISONBURG — Harrisonburg’s top prosecutor and James Madison University’s student newspaper have reached a settlement under which the state will pay $10,000 in legal fees that the paper accumulated while arguing against the seizure of staff photographs documenting a riot.

However, the student paper also agreed to turn over to the prosecutor 20 photos that it did not publish.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Marsha Garst also said Tuesday that she will use subpoenas to obtain information from news organizations in the future, unless there is “an imminent need to prevent the loss of life or threat of bodily injury.”