JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The order for the widow of Jared Bridegan to turn over her phone to the court is paused for three business days as an appellate court reviews a Duval County judge’s order.
READ THE STAY ORDER BELOW:
5b23-Cf-2862 5d Dca Order That Order on Compliance With Subpoenas Duces Tecum and Order to Show Cause Setti... by ActionNewsJax
Judge London Kite said Friday morning she received an email stating that the widow of Jared Bridegan would not turn her phone over, despite a court order to do so.
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Kite originally gave the order August 11 that Kirsten Bridegan would have to turn over her phone to the attorneys for Jared Bridegan’s ex-wife Shanna Gardner – who is one of three people charged with Jared Bridegan’s murder.
On Thursday, Judge Kite ordered Kirsten Bridegan to turn her phone over to court at 9 a.m. Friday.
She stopped the trial of Mario Fernandez Saldana, Gardner’s estranged husband, to address the issue on Friday morning.
Investigators believe it was Gardner and Fernandez Saldana who hired a hit man to carry out Jared Bridegan’s 2022 murder.
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Gardner’s attorneys are asking for an order to show cause for why Kirsten Bridegan is not being held in contempt of court.
On Friday afternoon, an appellate motion was filed to the Fifth District Court of Appeal for the State of Florida was filed by Kirsten Bridegan’s Attorney Douglas Clifton.
A response from Clifton to Gardner’s attorneys directing that Kirsten Bridegan show cause states that she is now pursuing “her right to appellate review of the Judge’s order demanding she turn her phone over for up to three days.”
READ RESPONSE TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE:
[23-Cf-2862] Non-party Response Kirsten Bridegan's Response to Order Directing Kirsten Bridegan to Show... by ActionNewsJax
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“The idea of jailing a widow while her [husband’s] alleged killer’s trial is taking place would be an unthinkable and devastating outcome. Especially under the circumstances where appellate review is imminent,” Clifton’s response said.
Kirsten Bridegan is also requesting through another motion that Tyler Bridegan Esq. “be granted permission to appear pro hac vice,” which means for this occasion, “to act as co-counsel of record” for her.
Tyler Bridegan is an attorney in Texas with the firm of Womble Bond Dickerson in Houston. The motion said that Tyler Bridegan would work alongside Clifton and Clifton would “continue to act as lead counsel.”
READ THE MOTION BELOW:
[23-Cf-2862] Motion (Verified) for Admission to Appear Pro Hac Vice Pursuant to Florida Rule of General Pra... by ActionNewsJax
What’s next
A final pretrial hearing is scheduled for Gardner at 8:30 a.m.
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