Ex-Florida Senate president gets another appeal

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court is giving former Florida Senate President W.D. Childers another chance to clear his name.

The high court on Monday reversed an appeals court ruling that affirmed Childers bribery conviction and returned the case for further consideration.

Childers' conviction stemmed from his position as an Escambia County commissioner after the Pensacola Republican left the Senate.

Childers has completed a 3 ½ year prison term. Besides clearing his name, a reversal of his conviction would restore a $2,500 monthly pension.

His lawyer, Nathan Dershowitz, said the high court decision gives Childers another opportunity to challenge his conviction but does not guarantee a reversal.

At issue is whether state courts considered if Childers was denied his federal constitutional right to cross-examine a key witness when they upheld his conviction.