But media organizations across the country criticized the raids as a violation of California's shield law, which specifically protects journalists from search warrants. Police voluntarily agreed to return Carmody's property, but the case will soon be back in court. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Samuel Feng set dates to hear requests by media organizations to unseal affidavits and revoke search warrants signed by judges. It did not surprise him that police raided a freelancer in politically liberal San Francisco. San Francisco police have defended the May 10 raids in which they seized computers, cellphones and cameras.

Source: ABC News May 21, 2019 05:26 UTC