Reporter Held in Contempt in Anthrax Case

After discussing Contempt of Court in class and also reviewing the one specific case in which a reporter was held for Contempt of Court , I researched some recent cases and found an article in the New York Times regarding a for reporter for USA Today, Ms. Toni Locy, and the case that led to her being fined (after being held in contempt by Judge Walton) beginning at $500 a day for seven days, then escalating to $1,000 a day for seven days, then $5,000 a day for seven days. The judge said that he would then consider other options, which lawyers said could include jail time

This case stems from a reporter's decision to refuse to name her confidential sources when reporting about a former Army scientist’s possible role in the 2001 anthrax attacks. Ms. Locy, along with another journalist, were being pressed to reveal their sources by Dr. Steven J. Hatfill, a onetime bioterrorism expert for the Army, who was suing the federal government, saying his reputation was ruined by leaks to the news media from law enforcement officials linking him to the attacks.

This is two cases in one really. Not only are we talking about Contempt of Court on the behalf of the reporters, but this case also brings up the issue of Dr. Steven J. Hatfill's reputation. As the judge put it, “There’s not a scintilla of evidence to suggest Dr. Hatfill had anything to do with it,” the judge said, yet the public notoriety has “destroyed his life.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/20/us/20anthrax.html