March 9, 2007 — Negotiations mediated by a federal magistrate failed to yield a settlement that would lead to the release Josh Wolf. U.S. Magistrate Joseph Spero said in a court filing that no settlement had been reached after four hours of talks and that he would consult with lawyers about whether to schedule another meeting. Wolf, who had attended the session, returned to the federal prison in Dublin. Reports and Photos: 1 | 2

February 14, 2007 — In yet another strange twist in the case against San Francisco independent journalist, Josh Wolf, U.S. District Judge William Alsup, who has rejected several defense requests to free Wolf, one as recently as last month, issued a brief order Tuesday referring the case to U.S. Magistrate Joseph Spero "in the interest of reaching a resolution satisfactory to both sides."

Alsup did not explain his order or give any indication for why he suddenly believed there was a reason to expect a settlement. Neither federal prosecutors nor Wolf have given any indication that they are ready to compromise and neither side has requested mediation.

"Josh is fighting a brave battle that an increasing number of journalists in the U.S. are facing today," said Jerry Zremski, president of the National Press Club. “Chillingly, many journalists must battle to keep their reporting from becoming a tool that prosecutors can use to further their cases." Read more

Indybay's Past Coverage of Josh Wolf's Case | Josh's Blog | Free the Media