TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1997

State of Florida v. Merlan Davis

No. 90,457

Merlan Davis was charged with aggravated assault with a motor vehicle after ramming his car into the vehicle of his former girlfriend on the Skyway Bridge. Davis' attorney subpoenaed a reporter who interviewed the girlfriend. The trial court quashed the subpoena on grounds it violated a "qualified reporter's privilege" to gather the news. After Davis was convicted, he appealed. The Second District reversed the conviction on grounds Davis should have been able to subpoena the reporter. The District Court certified a question asking the Supreme Court if the qualified privilege applied in this case.