Dodge City reporter found in contempt agrees to testify after her source reveals himself

A Kansas reporter has agreed to appear in court after her confidential source revealed himself following a judge's contempt ruling against the reporter. Dodge City Daily Globe reporter Clair O'Brien was subpoenaed by Ford County Attorney Terry Malone to reveal a confidential source, but O'Brien refused to appear in court Friday, leading District Judge Daniel Love to issue a contempt ruling and her newspaper to forsake her. After her source revealed himself to Malone this weekend, O'Brien showed up for court Monday and apologized for her decision to ignore the subpoena. (See previous report on the subpoena)

"He was moved by his own moral convictions — the only thing that could have evoked those was me demonstrating my moral convictions to that extent ... when he saw I was willing to pay the whole price," O'Brien told The Associated Press. "Hopefully it will show the Legislature how hopelessly tangled this situation can become without a clear statute showing the way." Doug Anstaett, executive director of the Kansas Press Association, told AP some state legislators have approached his group for help making Kansas the 36th state with a shield law. (Read more)