PSCI 3322 Lecture 34: LIBEL
25 Jan 2017
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Libel is unprotected speech because it has no value. It is a lie that causes harm, suing for damages. If it is true but damaging, it is protected. Hugo black would consider libel to be protected speech: solution to a libel is the truth. Destroy national press coverage of the civil rights movement. There is an advertisement published in nyt, talking about a demonstration for civil rights in montgomery, alabama. Sullivan department sues, saying that the ad is talking badly about the police department and therefore ruining the commissioner"s reputation: the ad never mentions his name. Nyt appeals to federal court: sullivan strategy/sullivan rule - sullivan doesn"t sue in federal court despite diversity of citizenship considering his influential position in montgomery. County and it is friendly to him, home cooking: court says public officials have a different standard for libel. The only way a public official can collect on a libel suit is if they can show.
