The Supreme Court has turned down an appeal from attorneys for James Holmes, who killed 12 people at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., in July 2012. Holmes had demanded that FoxNews.com reporter Jana Winter turn over a source for one of her stories, reports TVNewser.

The court's decision not to hear the case means a New York Court of Appeals ruling will remain in place in the two-year legal battle, the story adds. Winter had reported on a diary kept by Holmes, which he reportedly gave to his psychiatrist before the killings, the piece notes.

“We’re pleased that the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of free speech,” Fox News said in a statement. “The Court made it clear that Jana Winter can never be compelled to testify in Colorado, and that all New York-based journalists and media companies can rely on New York’s strong shield law when they are covering news across the country.”

Jana Winter