4 ms·
You’re getting downvoted because your position is absurd on its face. Just because subpoenas are likely to be dismissed does not make them unworthy of reporting
by peterbonney 6y ago
You’re getting downvoted because your position is absurd on its face. Just because subpoenas are likely to be dismissed does not make them unworthy of reporting, and arguably quite the opposite - particularly when it is a major federal agency doing the subpoenaing rather than some small town sheriff.
A subpoena is expensive and onerous to fight. Yes, Buzzfeed has the resources to do so. Does your local paper? To dismiss the power and newsworthiness of a subpoena from a major federal agency with all of the financial and human resources (funded by you the taxpayer!) that such position implies is cynical beyond belief. To then further dismiss the criticism of that view as “spam” is revealing.
- dvt 6y agoKind of jarring to read this kind of misinformation here on HN. This is not true. Even as a non-lawyer, I know that you can literally just ignore it and go to the contempt hearing (where the judge will most likely side with the news outlet).
- peterbonney 6y agoAnd many times have you been subpoenaed, exactly?
- mindslight 6y agoYeah that's exactly what attorneys say about legal requests all the time. "Oh just ignore it, no need to prepare, the judge will see it your way". Then they write you a check to thank you for saving them from boredom. </sarcasm> Have you ever retained an attorney for any legal issue whatsoever? From my experience, your comment is the grave misinformation.
- eganist 6y ago> Even as a non-lawyer, I know that you can literally just ignore it and go to the contempt hearing (where the judge will most likely side with the news outlet). > Even as a non-lawyer > non-lawyer Hey @dvt, this is a pretty bad look. I'm not an attorney; I've learned well enough through absurd-on-face comments of my own not to give legal advice when I'm out of my depth... or at all. This is the position you're in.
- dvt 6y ago> not to give legal advice when I'm out of my depth Maybe you're confused, I'm not giving any legal advice. First of all, there's no one to give legal advice to; but second of all, it's purely a procedural claim. It's like saying "if you don't pay your traffic ticket, your driver's license might get suspended." Similarly, if you ignore a subpoena, you'll go to a contempt hearing where you'll make your case to a judge. How that constitutes "legal advice" is beyond me, it's simply a brute fact.