A couple years ago, I wrote a few posts about the Northwestern branch of the Innocence Project, much of whose work is done by an investigative-journalism class taught by Prof. David Protess of the Medill School of Journalism. (Erm . . . the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications . . . sigh . . .) Prosecutors claimed that some of Protess’s students violated the law in collecting evidence — evidence that, the Innocence Project says, exonerates a death-row inmate.

It appears that Medill brass informed Protess that he will not be teaching the course this term. Here’s the university’s not-particularly-enlightening statement:

There have been recent media reports regarding the conduct of David Protess, a professor of journalism in Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, and the Medill Innocence Project, which he directs. Northwestern has been conducting its own review of Professor Protess and the actions and practices of the Innocence Project. That review began last fall after questions arose regarding the accuracy and completeness of information supplied to the University by Professor Protess. That information served as the basis for Northwestern’s response to subpoenas issued by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office.
The underlying court case in which the subpoenas were issued involved a post-conviction petition by a prisoner named Anthony McKinney. From Fall Quarter 2003 through Spring Quarter 2006, Medill students in Professor Protess’ Investigative Journalism class, working in conjunction with the Medill Innocence Project, researched the facts surrounding the conviction of Mr. McKinney.
The work of Professor Protess and the Medill Innocence Project has gained national recognition and brought credit to Northwestern and Medill. More importantly, that work has helped free wrongfully convicted individuals from prison. However, the laudable goal of the Innocence Project would not justify any improper actions that may have been taken by Professor Protess.
-Al Cubbage, University spokesman

If Northwestern (disclosure: my alma mater) is going to can a popular professor who’s done work that is important by all accounts, they need to offer a better explanation. Students and alumni are already circulating an online petition that expresses support for Protess and demands more information from the school.

It appears that the new professor will also focus on wrongful convictions, but the prisoners who were working with Protess may not participate.

To brush up on the case, read PBC’s previous coverage here, here, here, here, here, and here. The case raises interesting questions about Illinois’s “journalist shield” law, which protects journalists from having to reveal their sources — and thus forces the government to decide who is and is not a journalist.