( CNN ) -- The Supreme Court on Monday denied the appeal of a New York Times journalist who has refused to testify about anonymous sources in a federal leak investigation . The justices refused to intervene in the case alleging that James Risen used classified information about efforts to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon in his 2006 book , `` State of War . '' Last year , a federal court ruled that he would have to testify in the trial of a former CIA officer , Jeffrey Alexander Sterling , who faces criminal charges in the matter . Risen appealed and lost before asking the Supreme Court to weigh in . The justices issued their ruling without comment . He faces the possibility of fines or jail if his testimony is sought again and he refuses to comply . `` The ball is now in the government 's court , '' said Risen 's attorney , Joel Kurtzberg . `` The government can choose not to pursue Mr. Risen 's testimony if it wants to . `` We can only hope now that the government will not seek to have him held in contempt for doing nothing more than reporting the news and keeping his promises , '' Kurtzberg said . Controversy over the Obama administration 's aggressive pursuit of information from journalists in national security leak cases involving The Associated Press and Fox News made headlines last year . Attorney General Eric Holder met with media executives and later changed agency policy on when prosecutors can seek records or other information from journalists in leak investigations . For instance , the Justice Department can no longer pursue journalists in these matters unless a reporter is the subject of a criminal investigation for conduct unrelated to news gathering . The Supreme Court decision and what it may mean for Risen is troubling , said the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press . `` We are extremely disappointed that the Supreme Court declined this opportunity to uphold journalists ' ability to protect confidential sources , which is an essential tool utilized by a free press in newsgathering for the public trust , '' the group said . `` The lower court 's ruling sends an undeniable chill through current and future news sources who would want to come forward with information essential to the well-being of the community and the country . '' It had organized a letter sent the to Justice Department that was signed by 46 news organizations , including CNN , . Reporters have pushed for a federal shield law for the press , and clear guidelines from the government . The federal appeals court panel that ruled against Risen said the First Amendment does not provide a shield from testimony about leaks of classified information . `` Indeed , he can provide the only first-hand account of the commission of a most serious crime indicted by the grand jury -- the illegal disclosure of classified , national security information by one who was entrusted by our government to protect national security , but who is charged with having endangered it instead , '' said the appeals court 's majority . `` The subpoena for Risen 's testimony was not issued in bad faith or for the purposes of harassment . '' The indictment against Sterling was unsealed in January 2011 . It included Espionage Act charges that he revealed national defense information . His case has not gone to trial and has been delayed while both sides waited for the pending appeal at the high court . Sterling , who is African American , resigned from the CIA in January 2002 and filed a suit against the agency , alleging racial discrimination . He had previously filed an administrative complaint that the CIA had not given him certain assignments due to his race . The complaint and the suit were both later dismissed . Prosecutors allege that Sterling leaked information to a reporter because he was unhappy about his treatment at the CIA . The case is Risen v. U.S. ( 13-1009 ) . CNN 's Eliott C. McLaughlin contributed to this report .
New York Times journalist James Risen has refused to testify in leak case . It involves anonymous sources in an ongoing criminal investigation of a former CIA officer . Score: 6