Yancey v. Hamilton

I respectfully dissent because the decisions of the Court of Appeals and the circuit court were correct as to whether a newspaper can publish the opinion of a private citizen and not expose either party to a suit for defamation or invasion of privacy under these circumstances.

Yancey was arrested 13 days after a brutal double homicide and following his false confession to a relative that he had committed the murders. The newspaper clearly quotes the statements of various neighbors that this man was a smooth talker, a con artist and someone to whom the citizen would not lend money. It is…