'Chronicle' Reporters Face Jail Over Steroids Leak

[DATA]

Two San Francisco Chronicle reporters are facing up to 18 months in jail for refusing to testify about who leaked to them secret grand jury testimony from a steroids investigation.

More... (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6694923&ft=1&f=1001)

[Wabash]

Somebody is in deep doo doo........:ohyeah

[TrueBlue]

Can't the prosecutors get their evidence another way?

[Wabash]

Can't the prosecutors get their evidence another way?

Yes rectally!:rofl

[TrueBlue]

Somebody is in deep doo doo........:ohyeah

Yes rectally!:rofl

Got a fixation, Wabash?????

[April15]

More power to them and others who won't capitulate to testify about people or events that are nobodys business.

[Dano]

More power to them and others who won't capitulate to testify about people or events that are nobodys business.

Sorry dude,, Usually I would be close to the same page but this is different.

Grand Jury testimony is to be kept secret - by law.
If someone on a jury leaks the proceeds to a reporter and the reporter prints it - that reporter has broken the law.

Now, if he wants to point to the leaker - who broke the law - that's up to the reporter. But he should face the penalties just the same.

[Doc]

I hope they tell the color of the leaker rather than shielding them. Who knows maybe if we could have the truth we would know who are unfit to be present on juries and unfit to be confided in on important issues? I say 'no more O.J."s' :rofl

[TrueBlue]

This is a complicated area of law.

The Florida Supreme Court has addressed similar situations on two occasions.24 Both times the court decided that the newsgathering process and the need to protect confidential sources of information outweighed the state's interest in a possible prosecution. In fact, in Morgan v. State, 337 So. 2d 951 (Fla. 1976), the Florida Supreme Court overturned a contempt citation involving a reporter who refused to divulge the name of the individual who leaked a grand jury presentment in contravention of Sec. 905.24, Fla. Stat.


http://www.floridabar.org/DIVCOM/PI/RHandbook01.nsf/1119bd38ae090a748525676f0053b606/badd5b4fce22d788852569cb004cc254?OpenDocument

[April15]

Sorry dude,, Usually I would be close to the same page but this is different.

Grand Jury testimony is to be kept secret - by law.
If someone on a jury leaks the proceeds to a reporter and the reporter prints it - that reporter has broken the law.

Now, if he wants to point to the leaker - who broke the law - that's up to the reporter. But he should face the penalties just the same.I don't much care for secrecy in any form or for any reason.

[Dano]

I don't much care for secrecy in any form or for any reason.

Then change the Grand Jury rules....
Until then, it's the law.

[Saguaro]

I guess a job in the CIA is out for you,April :D

[April15]

I guess a job in the CIA is out for you,April :DAnything that requires secrets is out.
Just a side note to this. The whole reason for the persuit of the leaker is because the DA wants to put Barry Bonds on trial for perjury and without the reporters testimony they can't get at bonds. His trainer won't testify before the grand jury and is in jail on contempt charge indefinatly.

[Wabash]

I don't much care for secrecy in any form or for any reason.

Some things Must be secret, to protect others April...GJ proceedings is one, military war plans is another, SWAT team action against one or more criminals is a third!

[Wabash]

Anything that requires secrets is out.
Just a side note to this. The whole reason for the persuit of the leaker is because the DA wants to put Barry Bonds on trial for perjury and without the reporters testimony they can't get at bonds. His trainer won't testify before the grand jury and is in jail on contempt charge indefinatly.

fuck em!!

[April15]

Some things Must be secret, to protect others April...GJ proceedings is one, military war plans is another, SWAT team action against one or more criminals is a third!I guess that is why I'm not a team player.