NU prof hopes prosecutors drop subpoena

A Northwestern University journalism professor says he hopes Cook County prosecutors will drop their subpoena of his students' grades in light of new documents.

Professor David Protess and his students contend they've uncovered evidence that Anthony McKinney is innocent. McKinney was convicted of a 1978 murder.

The Cook County state's attorney's office responded to Protess and his students by issuing subpoenas seeking students' grades, his syllabus and their private e-mails.

McKinney's lawyers filed documents Wednesday that exclude some of the evidence uncovered by the students. And Protess says he hopes prosecutors will then drop their subpoena.

A spokeswoman for Cook County prosecutors hasn't returned a call seeking comment.