[JURIST] US District Judge Thomas F. Hogan [official profile] has lifted a contempt order against New York Times reporter Judith Miller [JURIST news archive] following her testimony Wednesday before a federal grand jury investigating the 2003 leak of the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame [JURIST news archive]. Judge Hogan lifted the order hours after Miller testified for a second time before the jury regarding notes she took during a discussion in June 2003 with I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby [official profile], chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney. Miller spent 85 days in prison, the longest term ever served by a journalist held in contempt, for refusing to testify until she was released to do so by her source. Miller's most recent testimony referred to notes she found after testifying previously and that referred to Plame's husband, Joseph Wilson, a former ambassador who had criticized the Bush administration for its handling of the run up to the war in Iraq. The New York Times has said that it will publish a full account of Miller's story following her testimony. The New York Times has more.

Previously in JURIST's Paper Chase...

• NYT reporter testifying again before grand jury in Plame probe
• NYT reporter says not part of cover-up in CIA probe
• NYT reporter Miller released from jail, will testify
• CIA leak probe could be nearing end, lawyers say