Ohio Supreme Court declines to hold reporter in contempt for refusing to testify

The Ohio Supreme Court decided Monday not to hold a reporter in contempt of court for refusing to testify in a disciplinary hearing against an attorney.

While the case was poised to answer the question of whether the state's reporter's privilege applied in quasi-judicial or administrative proceedings, the state's high court did not squarely answer this question. Instead of issuing a full opinion, the court briefly announced that it was dismissing the case and denying the Akron Bar Association's request to hold the reporter in contempt.

According to the newspaper's attorney, Karen C. Lefton, as reported in the Akron Beacon Journal, this means that the bar association cannot force Akron Beacon Journal reporter Phil Trexler to testify at the lawyer's disciplinary hearing.

Related Reporters Committee resources:

· News: Ohio bar association asks state Supreme Court to hold reporter in contempt