The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear the case of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist James Risen, who sought First Amendment protection from being forced to reveal his confidential sources in a criminal proceeding.

Without comment, the justices let stand a ruling against the New York Times reporter by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. A divided panel ruled last July that reporters do not enjoy a privilege from testifying under the First Amendment or criminal law.