Garrison v. Louisiana (1964) - Free Speech for Lawyers Criticizing Judges?
Channel: Professor Stevenson
Date: 2023-11-16

Explainer video for my Professional Responsibility course about Garrison v. Louisiana, 379 U.S. 64 (1964) (this case is also taught in some First Amendment courses), which held that lawyers have First Amendment protections for statements criticizing judges - if the lawyer spoke without "actual malice." This landmark decision by the Supreme Court shaped the provisions eventually adopted by the ABA in Model Rule 8.2(a). This case was a follow-up to the famous NYT v. Sullivan decision from the Supreme Court.

Jim Garrison's strange legal career generated almost continuous controversy. He is probably best know for his investigation into the JFK assassination (he brought charges against a few individuals he believed were involved).