Criminal trials

Another case of a journalist being held in contempt of court for refusing to let his newsgathering product be used in a criminal trial has come to a head in California.

Santa Barbara Independent photographer Paul Wellman had taken more than 300 pictures at a murder scene back in March, and Superior Court Judge Brian Hill has ordered that he turn those over to defense counsel -- despite a strong California shield law that should let such a subpoena be quashed.