Jailed Writer Remains Imprisoned

Aug. 17 -- A federal appeals court today refused to free a Texas writer jailed for not handing over her notes on a murder investigation to a grand jury.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans made its ruling two days after hearing Vanessa Leggett's appeal. On July 20, a judge jailed Leggett for refusing to hand over her notes to a federal grand jury investigating the 1997 slaying of Doris Angleton, the wife of a reputed bookie.

Leggett, who says she is writing a book on the case, was found in contempt of court in the closed hearing. Prosecutors asked her to give up all her notes, tapes and material — originals and copies — related to the death and its investigation.

Leggett says she is trying to protect her rights as a journalist and the public's right to a free press and will not hand over her notes because it would compromise her sources.

Federal prosecutors argue she is not a real member of the press because she has never been published and does not work for a news organization. Leggett, the government maintains, is hindering its investigation and the judge had every right to imprison her. Today, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed.

"The district court did not abuse its discretion in orderingLeggett incarcerated for contempt," said the court's opinion. "Even assuming that Leggett, a virtually unpublished freelancewriter, operating without an employer or a contract forpublication, qualifies as a journalist under the law, thejournalist privilege is ineffectual against a grand jury subpoena,absent evidence of governmental harassment or oppression."

Many More Possible Months of Jail

Leggett's involvement in the Angelton case began after Texas state prosecutors focused their investigation on the victim's husband, Robert Angleton, and his brother, Roger. Both were charged with capital murder, as prosecutors believed Robert hired Roger to kill his wife to prevent her from collecting millions in a divorce settlement.