Kansas high court stays subpoena for reporter's testimony

The Kansas Supreme Court on Tuesday temporarily stayed a judge’s order compelling a newspaper reporter’s testimony about her sources and interview notes relating to a murder investigation, The Associated Press reported.

On the eve of the day Dodge City Globe reporter Claire O’Brien was scheduled to appear at the inquisition — similar in nature to a grand jury proceeding — of murder suspect Samuel Bonillo, Kansas’ high court granted her request for a temporary stay and said the parties involved had until Jan. 25 to respond.

O’Brien had previously asked a lower court to stay the order to testify pending appeal, but the request was denied.

At issue are O’Brien’s interview notes from a jailhouse interview with Bonillo and information she obtained from a confidential source. Attorneys prosecuting the case told the AP they would respond as directed by the court.