Hawaii Beat Star-Bulletin staff

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States support Bonds reporters

SAN FRANCISCO >> Two dozen states, including Hawaii, filed a brief on behalf of two San Francisco Chronicle reporters, telling a federal appeals court that public interest demands the recognition of a journalist's right to protect confidential sources.

In papers filed with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last Thursday, the states, led by New York, challenged a federal judge's order to imprison the reporters, Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada, who refused to testify about who leaked them secret grand jury testimony of Barry Bonds and other athletes.

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