Biography
Peter Bridge was a journalist for the Newark Evening News in New Jersey who, in 1972, was jailed for 21 days after being charged with contempt for refusing to answer questions regarding the sources he used for a story about a bribery case.
On October 3, 1972, the Supreme Court denied an application for a stay in Bridge v. New Jersey, No. A-362. Justice William O. Douglas would have granted the stay. This procedural order preceded the separately documented contempt imprisonment and does not itself establish a custody date.
On March 19, 1973, the Supreme Court denied Peter Bridge’s petition in No. 72-923 from the New Jersey Appellate Division. Justice Douglas would deny review on mootness grounds. This later litigation event does not establish the admission or discharge dates of his 1972 contempt confinement.
The New Jersey appellate opinion identifies Judge Meanor as the judge who ordered Peter Bridge confined for civil contempt after refusing grand-jury questions. The contemporary AP release report names him H. Curtis Meanor and separately identifies James R. Giuliano as the judge who ordered Bridge released on October 24, 1972. The existing custody dates remain unchanged; the newspaper reports 21 days, while the documented dates are 20 elapsed days apart.
In re Bridge, 120 N.J. Super. 460 (1972); AP, The Lawton Constitution, October 25, 1972, page 5; The University Daily, October 25, 1972, page 1.
