First, it warms the heart that we have at least one federal judge who’s not afraid to speak truth to power.
Second, no one should lose sight of the fact that these special 1A privileges against defamation claims weren’t created until 180-years AFTER the Constitution was adopted (by judicial fiat, no less).
Lastly, it pains me every time I see a judge/group of judges protect this kind of bad, defaming media behavior by speaking so deferentially, almost religiously about the freedom of ‘the press’ and pretending that when Madison wrote those words, he was referring to professional journalists. He wasn’t. He was referring to the actual PRINTING PRESS. It wasn’t until early in the 20th century did the phrase ‘The Press’ become a euphemism for professional media, or media of any kind.
This Reagan appointee was spot-on in his critique of the current problem of Sullivan v. NY Times.
He was referring to the actual PRINTING PRESS. It wasn’t until early in the 20th century did the phrase ‘The Press’ become a euphemism for professional media, or media of any kind.”
And in Madison’s day they weren’t the “press” who needed freedom to speak/print, because many of them were the king’s publication. It was the “pamphleteers” (eighteenth century social/alternate media) who were speaking against the crown.
...Sort of like today, except instead of the crown, the alternate “press”, FB TWIT et al silencing dissenting voices, unheard...again
As the keyword says, there’s ONE honest judge left in America?
Wow. Didn’t think we had that many.