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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, October 16, 2002

Bush's Niece Receives No Preferential Treatment in Court

U.S. Florida Governor Jeb Bush's daughter cannot have her drug court hearings closed to the public, a judge ruled Tuesday. Circuit Judge Reginald Whitehead said that Florida's drug courts are criminal proceedings and are open to the public.


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U.S. Florida Governor Jeb Bush's daughter cannot have her drug court hearings closed to the public, a judge ruled Tuesday. Circuit Judge Reginald Whitehead said that Florida's drug courts are criminal proceedings and are open to the public.

Whitehead scheduled a hearing for Thursday to determine if 25-year-old Noelle Bush can stay in her drug treatment program or whether she will be returned to the regular criminal justice system.

Attorneys for Noelle Bush had asked the judge to close her drug court hearings, arguing that the governor's daughter had the right to expect privacy.

But the Orlando Sentinel and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel argued that drug courts were no different from criminal courts and subject to the same openness.

Noelle Bush was placed in the drug court system after she was accused of trying to use a forged prescription to buy the anti-anxiety drug Xanax at a pharmacy drive-through window in January. She has been undergoing treatment at a rehab center in Orlando.

Bush was sent to jail for two days in July after center workers found her with prescription pills. Last month, a caller told Orlando police that Bush had a piece of crack in her shoe, but a judge later ruled that workers at the center cannot be forced to testify in court about Bush's case.

In interviews Tuesday, the governor said that his daughter's battle with drugs has strained his family. But he accepted the judge's decision.

Bush said his daughter's addiction is difficult to handle as a father.

Source: Agencies








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