Judge Grants Subpoena for Woods' Prescription Records in DUI Case

Why it matters locally: While the DUI case is a national news story due to the high-profile individual, the incident and legal proceedings are taking place within Martin County, Florida.

A Martin County circuit court judge granted a prosecution motion on May 12, allowing the subpoena of Tiger Woods' prescription drug records. Woods, 50, faces a misdemeanor DUI charge, property damage, and refusal to submit to a lawful test following his March 27 rollover car crash near Jupiter, Florida. Woods pleaded not guilty to these charges. Deputies responding to the March 27 incident reported finding two pain pills, identified as the opioid hydrocodone, in Woods' possession. Prosecutors sought all prescription medication records for Woods from a Palm Beach pharmacy, spanning from January 1 through April 30. Woods' attorney, Douglas Duncan, argued for the golfer's constitutional right to privacy regarding his prescription medications, but prior to the hearing, both parties agreed on terms for the use and release of the records to protect them from public view. Judge Darren Steele subsequently granted the prosecution's motion to obtain these records. Authorities stated Woods was traveling at high speed when his Land Rover collided with a pressure-cleaning truck, causing his vehicle to overturn. Woods crawled out of the passenger window and showed signs of impairment, telling police he had taken prescription medication. He denied consuming illegal substances. Woods was arrested, subjected to an alcohol breath test which returned negative results, and refused a urinalysis. He was released on bond after eight hours in the Martin County Jail.