Judge in Florida issues order in Tiger Woods' DUI case

TL;DR

A Florida judge has ordered Tiger Woods' prescription records to be submitted to prosecutors in his DUI case. Woods was arrested on March 27 for DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a DUI test.

Key points

Tiger Woods arrested on March 27 for DUI
Charges include DUI with property damage
Judge ordered prescription records for prosecutors
Hearing took place in Martin County, Florida
Woods refused to submit to a DUI test

Mentioned in this story

Tiger Woods

Martin County

Judge in Florida issues order in Tiger Woods' DUI case

MARTIN COUNTY — A judge May 12 ordered that Tiger Woods' prescription records be provided to prosecutors as part of a DUI-related case against the golf legend.

County Judge Darren Steele during a brief hearing made the ruling in connection with the case against Woods on Jupiter Island.

Woods, 50, was arrested March 27 by Martin County sheriff’s deputies on charges of DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to DUI test after the crash on South Beach Road, records show.

In addition to being arrested, Woods was issued a traffic citation related to careless driving, which carries a $163 civil penalty, records show.

Recap: See what happened in court on our blog

At issue May 12 was an earlier notice by prosecutors to Woods of the state’s plans to subpoena Woods’ prescription drug dispensary records. Attorney Douglas Duncan, who represents Woods, objected, and a hearing was set.

Assistant State Attorney Nirlaine Smartt on May 12 told Steele the defense agreed the state has a compelling interest to the information. Steele questioned Duncan about that.

"Judge, we have filed a response objecting, noting that Mr. Woods has a constitutional right to privacy in the records," Duncan said. "In the response, we acknowledge that that privacy right is not absolute should the state make a compelling need for the records on relevancy grounds."

Duncan said there is a "low burden" for prosecutors to establish relevancy.

Duncan requested as part of the order issuing the subpoena it include “the records obtained by the state can be shared by their law enforcement people, their experts, shared with me and no one else.”

Steele granted the subpoena with the stipulation.

A judge April 1 approved Woods’ request to travel out of the country to start “comprehensive inpatient treatment” following the DUI-related arrest, according to court records.

Following the crash, medication was discussed or mentioned by investigators and Woods, records show.