New York Post Corp. v. Leibowitz

Füld, J.

After the acquittal of a defendant in a criminal case, a newspaper reporter sought to obtain a transcript of the trial judge’s charge to the jury. His request refused, his employer brought this proceeding to effect its delivery. The courts below dismissed the petition initiating the proceeding and we granted leave to appeal because of the importance of the questions presented.

In 1955, a probationary police officer, named Surrey, was charged with the crime of manslaughter in the first degree arising out of the fatal shooting of a fifteen-year-old boy. He was tried in the County. Court…