Opinion ID: 169086
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Summary of Constitutional Claims

Text: 19 Before turning to the threshold jurisdictional issues, we provide a brief summary of Mink's constitutional argument. This background bears on both the underlying procedural posture of the case, as well as the claims asserted against the prosecutor who reviewed the affidavit in support of the search warrant. 20 Mink requests a declaration that the Colorado criminal libel statute is facially unconstitutional under the First Amendment. His amended complaint names the Colorado Attorney General and the District Attorney as defendants. 21 Colorado's criminal libel statute provides: 22 (1) A person who shall knowingly publish or disseminate, either by written instrument, sign, pictures, or the like, any statement or object tending to blacken the memory of one who is dead, or to impeach the honesty, integrity, virtue, or reputation or expose the natural defects of one who is alive, and thereby to expose him to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule, commits criminal libel. 23 (2) It shall be an affirmative defense that the publication was true, except libels tending to blacken the memory of the dead and libels tending to expose the natural defects of the living. 24 (3) Criminal libel is a class 6 felony. 25 Colo.Rev.Stat. § 18-13-105. 26 Mink's primary contention is that the Colorado criminal libel statute is over-broad because it implicates conduct that is constitutionally protected. In support of his argument, Mink points to United States Supreme Court case law requiring a party bringing a libel action to prove (1) fault of the speaker and (2) falsity of the statement. Specifically, the Supreme Court has held false statements on matters of public concern regarding public figures are protected unless they are made with actual malice—i.e., with knowledge the statements are false or with reckless disregard as to whether they are false or not. New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254, 279-80, 84 S.Ct. 710, 11 L.Ed.2d 686 (1964). False statements on matters of public concern regarding private figures are protected unless they are made negligently. Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc., 418 U.S. 323, 351, 352, 94 S.Ct. 2997, 41 L.Ed.2d 789 (1974). In public concern cases, the party bringing the action also bears the burden of proving the falsity of the statement. Philadelphia Newspapers v. Hepps, 475 U.S. 767, 776, 106 S.Ct. 1558, 89 L.Ed.2d 783 (1986). 27 Mink alleges The Howling Pig was devoted to matters of public concern to the UNC community, such as lack of faculty diversity and free speech on campus. Further, he alleges Professor Peake often voiced his views publicly and has therefore arguably rendered himself a public figure for First Amendment purposes. Mink does not, however, bring an as applied challenge to the statute. Instead, he argues the statute is unconstitutional on its face because it punishes libelous statements with no fault requirement and without placing the burden of proving falsity on the prosecutor. 28 Mink further contends the Colorado Supreme Court's subsequent interpretation of the statute does not cure the constitutional infirmities. The United States Supreme Court has long respected the ability of state high courts to narrow over-broad statutes so as to solve constitutional problems. Osborne v. Ohio, 495 U.S. 103, 119, 110 S.Ct. 1691, 109 L.Ed.2d 98 (1990). In 1991, the Colorado Supreme Court narrowed the potential scope of the criminal libel law in People v. Ryan, 806 P.2d 935 (Colo.1991): 29 From the United States Supreme Court's pronouncements concerning libel we discern a precise category of protected conduct that falls outside of the legitimate sweep of section 18-13-105. That category consists of libelous statements about public officials or public figures involving matters of public concern. This category of constitutionally protected conduct gives us a clear line by which to distinguish the statute's constitutional and unconstitutional applications. We therefore hold that section 18-13-105 is invalid only insofar as it reaches constitutionally protected statements about public officials or public figures on matters of public concern. Our partial invalidation, however, affects only the application of subsection (1) of the statute. Truth shall remain an affirmative defense pursuant to section 18-13-105(2) . . . and article II, section 10, of the Colorado Constitution. 30 Id. at 940-41(footnotes omitted). 31 According to Mink, Ryan did not limit the statute's applicability with regard to statements made about private individuals on matters of public concern, and thus the law continues to run afoul of the First Amendment. He claims these statements are still punishable under Colorado law, even when made non-negligently and even when the party bringing the action has not proven their falsity. 3 32 With that backdrop, we turn to the procedural posture of Mink's constitutional claim in light of the district attorney's disavowal of an intent to prosecute him under the statute.