Pain Treatment Activist Fined for Contempt

Yesterday I noted that pain treatment activist Siobhan Reynolds is fighting a subpoena from a federal grand jury in Kansas demanding documents and a film as part of an investigation into whether Reynolds "obstructed justice" by taking up the cause of a local doctor accused of writing inappropriate narcotic prescriptions. Today U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson fined Reynolds and her group, the Pain Relief Network, for contempt of court because she refuses to turn over the material, arguing that the investigation, which was instigated by a vindictive federal prosecutor, violates her First Amendment rights. The fines, $200 a day for Reynolds and for her organization, take effect in 10 days. The American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing Reynolds, plans to appeal.