Legal Opinion
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan
Supreme Court of the United States
Decided March 9, 1964No. 39PublishedCited by 8,124 opinions
1Opinion of the CourtJustice Brennan
We are required in this case to determine for the first time the extent to which the constitutional protections for speech and press limit a State’s power to award damages in a libel action brought by a public official against critics of his official conduct.
Respondent L. B. Sullivan is one of the three elected Commissioners of the City of Montgomery, Alabama. He testified that he was “Commissioner of Public Affairs and the duties are supervision of the Police Department, Fire Department, Department of Cemetery and Department of Scales.” He brought this civil libel action against the four…
2Cases cited66 opinions
- Cantwell v. ConnecticutSupreme Court of the United States · 1940
- Roth v. United StatesSupreme Court of the United States · 1957
- National Ass'n for the Advancement of Colored People v. ButtonSupreme Court of the United States · 1963
- National Ass'n for the Advancement of Colored People v. Alabama Ex Rel. PattersonSupreme Court of the United States · 1958
- Chaplinsky v. New HampshireSupreme Court of the United States · 1942
61 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by8,124 opinions
- Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc.Supreme Court of the United States · 1986
- Pickering v. Board of Ed. of Township High School Dist. 205, Will Cty.Supreme Court of the United States · 1968
- Connick Ex Rel. Parish of Orleans v. MyersSupreme Court of the United States · 1983
- Buckley v. ValeoSupreme Court of the United States · 1976
- George v. SmithCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 2007
8,119 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.