P. Cameron DeVore
Encyclopedia
P. Cameron DeVore was an American
attorney who was an expert in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution
who specialized in representing news companies in cases that involved issues of freedom of the press
.
DeVore was born in Great Falls, Montana
on April 25, 1932. His father was a newspaperman who was the editor of the Great Falls Tribune
and the Montana Farmer. He grew up in Spokane, Washington
. DeVore studied at Yale University
, University of Cambridge
and Harvard Law School
, where he received his law degree in 1961. After graduating from law school, he moved to Seattle, Washington
and joined the firm of Wright, Simon, Todd & Schmechel (now known as Davis Wright Tremaine
) where he developed a practice focusing on First Amendment issues.
Together with Robert D. Sack
, a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
in Manhattan
, he coauthored the 1998 book Advertising and Commercial Speech: A First Amendment Guide.
First Amendment cases in which he was involved included Auvil v. CBS
60 Minutes
, in which Washington State apple growers claimed that a February 26, 1989 broadcast of the investigative television newsmagazine 60 Minutes
had exaggerated the potential dangers of the pesticide Daminozide
and its health risks, especially in children. He also participated in Greater New Orleans Broadcasting Association v. United States, which challenged restrictions on casino advertising and challenged the extent to which the government can regulate the media. His brief in Cable News Network
v. Berger, which involved media participation in ride-along
s, argued that "media access to many vital law enforcement activities will cease" if the court found against the practice.
The Seattle Times
was a client for 30 years. DeVore worked with the paper to vet
news articles for the paper, helping it to find ways to publish articles that might have exposed the newspaper to legal action. Former managing editor Alex MacLeod credited DeVore with helping in three of the Pulitzer Prize
s won by the paper, noting that we published stories that were above reproach even though there was considerable risk to the paper in terms of our reputation or just plain legal jeopardy in all of these articles.
DeVore died at age 76 on October 26, 2008 at his computer in his home on Lopez Island
in Washington. A cause of death had not been determined, though it was apparently of a heart attack
. In a self-written obituary, DeVore described his love of fly fishing
and claimed in advance to have died of "a surfeit of pâté de foie gras ice cream smothered in huckleberries."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney who was an expert in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
who specialized in representing news companies in cases that involved issues of freedom of the press
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...
.
DeVore was born in Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
on April 25, 1932. His father was a newspaperman who was the editor of the Great Falls Tribune
Great Falls Tribune
The Great Falls Tribune is a daily morning newspaper printed in Great Falls, Montana. Its Sunday circulation is 36,763, with 33,434 on weekdays...
and the Montana Farmer. He grew up in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
. DeVore studied at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, where he received his law degree in 1961. After graduating from law school, he moved to Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
and joined the firm of Wright, Simon, Todd & Schmechel (now known as Davis Wright Tremaine
Davis Wright Tremaine
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is a national business and litigation law firm representing clients in the United States and in China. In 2008, the National Law Journal ranked the firm 98th largest in the United States based on attorney headcount. In 2008 , Davis Wright Tremaine ranked No...
) where he developed a practice focusing on First Amendment issues.
Together with Robert D. Sack
Robert D. Sack
Robert David Sack is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.-Personal:Sack was raised in Brooklyn, New York. His father was Eugene Sack, who served as rabbi of Congregation Beth Elohim for 35 years. In 1989 he married his second wife, the lawyer Anne K...
, a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, he coauthored the 1998 book Advertising and Commercial Speech: A First Amendment Guide.
First Amendment cases in which he was involved included Auvil v. CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
, in which Washington State apple growers claimed that a February 26, 1989 broadcast of the investigative television newsmagazine 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
had exaggerated the potential dangers of the pesticide Daminozide
Daminozide
Daminozide is a plant growth regulator, a chemical sprayed on fruit to regulate their growth, make their harvest easier, and enhance their color. First approved for use in the U.S. in 1963, it was primarily used on apples until 1989 when it was voluntarily withdrawn by the manufacturer after the U.S...
and its health risks, especially in children. He also participated in Greater New Orleans Broadcasting Association v. United States, which challenged restrictions on casino advertising and challenged the extent to which the government can regulate the media. His brief in Cable News Network
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
v. Berger, which involved media participation in ride-along
Ride-along
A ride-along is an arrangement for a civilian to spend a shift in the passenger seat of a police car, observing the work day of a police officer, Firefighter, or Paramedic....
s, argued that "media access to many vital law enforcement activities will cease" if the court found against the practice.
The Seattle Times
The Seattle Times
The Seattle Times is a newspaper serving Seattle, Washington, US. It is the largest daily newspaper in the state of Washington. It has been, since the demise in 2009 of the printed version of the rival Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle's only major daily print newspaper.-History:The Seattle Times...
was a client for 30 years. DeVore worked with the paper to vet
Vetting
Vetting is a process of examination and evaluation, generally referring to performing a background check on someone before offering him or her employment, conferring an award, etc...
news articles for the paper, helping it to find ways to publish articles that might have exposed the newspaper to legal action. Former managing editor Alex MacLeod credited DeVore with helping in three of the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
s won by the paper, noting that we published stories that were above reproach even though there was considerable risk to the paper in terms of our reputation or just plain legal jeopardy in all of these articles.
DeVore died at age 76 on October 26, 2008 at his computer in his home on Lopez Island
Lopez Island
Lopez Island is the third largest of the U.S. San Juan Islands. Lopez Island is in land area. The 2000 census population was 2,177.-History:...
in Washington. A cause of death had not been determined, though it was apparently of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
. In a self-written obituary, DeVore described his love of fly fishing
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
and claimed in advance to have died of "a surfeit of pâté de foie gras ice cream smothered in huckleberries."