Prosecutors praise judge’s decision on NU emails

Cook County prosecutors say it’s important that a judge has ordered hundreds of emails detailing efforts by students to free a man serving a life sentence to be turned over to prosecutors.

The emails are communications between former Northwestern University professor David Protess and Medill School of Journalism students.

Cook County Judge Diane Cannon ruled Wednesday that the students were “acting as investigators in a criminal proceeding.” Cannon says that makes the information “subject to the rules of discovery.”

The decision came after two years of legal battles.

Assistant State’s Attorney Celeste Stack says it’s been frustrating. She says there wouldn’t have been an issue if the students were working for a newspaper.

Northwestern has 10 days to appeal and university officials say they’ll study the judge’s order before deciding.