Farber Says Appeal Rejection Won't End Issue

SPRINGFIELD--The Supreme Court's refusal to review New York Times reporters Myron Farber's contempt conviction for withholding confidential files leaves "a festering problem," Farber said yesterday.

He told students at Eastern New England College Law School that the Court has not decided the issue by refusing to hear the case, because courts are subpoenaing more and more reporters.

"The problem is escalating, but the area is unsettled," he said, referring to the differing rulings of state appellate courts.

Farber spent 40 days in jail after refusing to turn over materials he gathered in the case of a New Jersey doctor accused of murder.

He said yesterday he was surprised when a federal district court judge condemned him for his plans to write a book about the case, adding he saw nothing wrong with planning a book on the case while withholding confidential material.