Word: libellant
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...civil liberties. Always articulate in his opinions, Black has become the acknowledged leader of the Supreme Court's liberal bloc. The Bill of Rights is Black's bible-and he takes it as literally as the Biblical fundamentalists. Thus, he recently argued (off the bench) that libel and slander laws are an infringement on freedom of the press and of speech as guaranteed by the Constitution...
Zenger (1697-1746) was brought to trial in 1735 for publishing the New York Weekly Journal, which contained articles attacking the arbitrary measures of the Governor of New York, William Cosby. Zenger was arrested on the charge of false and scandalous libel, and imprisoned and held incommunicado for nine months. Zenger's lawyer, Andrew Hamilton of Philadelphia, argued that the statements published were in fact true. In deciding for Zenger, the principle was established that the publication of truthful statements could not be considered libelous...
...press, leaves such offenders beyond the reach of any law. In the current issue of the New York University Law Review, Justice Black extended his version of the Bill of Rights even farther. "I have no doubt myself," said he, "that the provision intended that there should be no libel or defamation law in the United States Government, just absolutely none." Right to Speak. Even N.Y.U. Law Professor Edmond Cahn, whose dialogue with Justice Black forms the basis of the Law Review article, seemed astonished at Black's stand. Did that mean, Cahn asked, that a U.S. citizen...
...Hastings College of the Law, felt that "Black has gone off the deep end on this one." Against such critics Justice Black preserved the traditional silence of the nation's loftiest bench. But few newspapers and magazines are likely to follow his lead and challenge the libel laws. The press is well aware that Justice Black's extreme position is-to put it in lower case-a minority opinion...
...damage is done by the omission of reports or the watering down of reports that should have been printed. We have now reached a point where strictures on a provincial police force will produce a libel action from the chief constable, which he will probably...