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Judge declares state employee drug testing unconstitutional

A Miami federal judge has declared that Florida Governor Rick Scott’s executive order requiring drug testing for state employees is unconstitutional. Sascha Cordner has more.

U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro ruled Thursday that blanket testing of some 85,000 state workers violates the Fourth Amendment ban on unreasonable searches and seizures. Scott’s order was challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union. Its spokesman Baylor Johnson says drug testing should only be done if there is a suspected problem:

“The Governor’s order wasn’t based on any suspicion of drug use. It was just a blanket order mandating these invasive searches of your bodily fluids.”

The Governor says he respectfully disagrees with the ruling, and plans to appeal. The ruling could impact a new state law that would permit random state worker drug testing starting in July.

Sascha Cordner has more than ten years of public radio experience. It includes working at NPR member station WUFT-FM in Gainesville for several years. She's worked in both radio and TV, serving in various capacities as a reporter, producer and anchor. She's also a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in telecommunications. She is the recipient of 15 awards from the Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and Edward R. Murrow. Her award-winning stories include her coverage on the infamous “Dozier School for Boys” and a feature titled "Male Breast Cancer: Lost in the Sea of Pink." Currently, Sascha serves as the host and producer of local and state news content for the afternoon news program "All Things Considered" at WFSU. Sascha primarily covers criminal justice and social services issues. When she's not reporting, Sascha likes catching up on her favorite TV shows, singing and reading. Follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter:@SaschaCordner.