Sigmund D. Schutz

Sigmund D. Schutz concentrates his practice in commercial litigation and media law. He has been newsroom counsel to Maine’s largest news organization for more than 20 years. He also frequently protects the interests of regional and national broadcast and print media in New England.

In the realm of First Amendment law, Schutz’s victories include: defending many state and federal libel and privacy claims and precedent setting challenges to government secrecy, including cases involving access to 911 calls, jury information, investigative and police records, dash-cam video, and access to government documents. Schutz and his firm helped enact Maine’s only statutory journalist’s privilege. He has defended many subpoenas on the news media.

Schutz is listed in the Best Lawyers in America in First Amendment Law, Chambers USA, Super Lawyers, and Benchmark Litigation. He is AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He wrote the Maine chapter in The Open Government Guide by The Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press, and the Maine chapter in the 50-State Survey of Media Libel Law published by the Media Law Resource Center, and has been published by the Maine Law Review and Maine Bar Journal.

In addition to the New England First Amendment Coalition, Mr. Schutz is also a member of the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition, and is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the Maine Bar Foundation. He is a graduate of Colby College (B.A.) and Cornell Law School (J.D.) and is admitted to practice law in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York.