Document: 401 U.S. 265 91 S.Ct. 621 28 L.Ed.2d 35 MONITOR PATRIOT CO. et al., Petitioners,v.Roselle A. ROY, etc. No. 62. Argued Dec. 17, 1970. Decided Feb. 24, 1971. Syllabus Just before the 1960 New Hampshire Democratic primary election, petitioner newspaper published a column characterizing senatorial candidate Roy as 'former small-time bootlegger.' Roy, who was not elected, sued and distributor of for libel. The judge told jury that candidate, 'public official,' rule requiring showing article false had been 'with knowledge its falsity or with reckless disregard whether it true,' applied long libel concerned 'official' opposed to 'private' conduct. were instructed if they found be in sector,' bring verdict distributor, there no evidence engaged knowing falsehood, but decide on 'preponderance evidence' liable. If publication 'private two defenses: (1) 'justification,' true 'lawful occasion,' (2) 'conditional privilege,' 'on lawful occasion, good faith, justifiable purpose, belief founded reasonable grounds truth matter published.' returned against both column. State Supreme Court affirmed, holding properly considered alleged 'relevant' Roy's fitness office. Held: 1. Publications concerning candidates public office must accorded at least much protection under First Fourteenth Amendments those occupants Pp. 270—272. 2. As constitutional law, charge criminal conduct, how remote time place, can never irrelevant an official's candidate's purposes applying 'knowing falsehood disregard' York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 254, 84 710, 11 686. 272—277. 3. here erroneously permitted determine standard inapplicable. P. 277. 109 N.H. 441, 254 A.2d 832, reversed remanded. Edward Bennett Williams, Washington, D.C., petitioners. Stanley M. Brown, Manchester, N.H., respondent. Mr. Justice STEWART delivered opinion Court. 1 On September 10, 1960, three days Party's election United States Senate, Concord Monitor, daily Concord, Hampshire, syndicated 'D.C. Merry-Go-Round' discussing forthcoming election. spoke political maneuvering campaign, referred records several candidates, characterized Alphonse one bootlegger.'1 elected primary, he subsequently Monitor Patriot North American Newspaper Alliance (NANA), column, 2 NANA offered 'truth' their defense trial, presented issue fact bootlegger during prohibition era. defendants also without malice, probable charge, occasion. At close evidence, trial great length law case. Three possible defenses emerged from these instructions. 3 First, official' by virtue his candidacy primary. consequence, special rule, 'knowledge would apply so 'official conduct' conduct.' This private-public distinction elaborated follows: 'Is more than otherwise plaintiff former affair par official conduct officials?' went on: 4 'As within concept, surrender scrutiny discussion private character affects That is, anything which might touch Senator come concept upon relevant rather bringing forward plaintiff's forgotten misconduct interest, then sector.' 5 sector' NANA, since still 6 Supposing available NANA. first prevail occasion.'2 second could even false, only 7 $20,000, $10,000 appeal, affirmed judgment, sent question particular 832. We granted certiorari order consider issues 397 904, 90 909, 25 85. 8 * In 279—280, 726, 686, we held require 'a federal prohibits recovering damages defamatory relating unless proves statement made 'actual malice'—that not.' based recognition Amendment guarantee free press is inevitably tension state laws designed secure society's interest individual reputation. approach identify class person— officials—and type activity—there conduct—and defamations respecting them particularly high liability—knowing truth. Later cases have clear applicability this basic limited performance acts, or, matter, conventional civil suits. Garrison Louisiana, 379 64, 85 209, 13 125; Curtis Publishing Butts, 388 130, 87 1975, 18 1094; Greenbelt Cooperative Assn. Bresler, 398 6, 1537, 26 6. 9 case December 1966, after our decisions Garrison, Greenbelt. elective office, characterization has challenged here. Given later cases, preferable categorize figure,' other reason avoid straining common meaning words. But importance far liability concerned, abundantly that, whichever term applied, publications itself intended spite use restricted terminology, readily apparent opinion's text citations law.3 And conceded 'fashioned assure unfettered interchange ideas about social changes desired people,' Roth States, 354 476, 484, 77 1304, 1308, 1498, hardly doubted fullest most urgent application precisely campaigns II 10 verdicts It clear, therefore, impose having determination, concluded 'unjustified'—that occasion.' any event, judge's instructions return money 'in faith,' 'justifiable purpose,' 'belief Since less stringent truth, judgment shown applicable because nature question. Cf. Ocala Star-Banner Damron, 295, 628, 57. respondent argues burden proof libels 'relating conduct,' means 'conduct office,' public-private jury. view, however, sylogistic manipulation distinctions between sectors' sectors,' matters little utility resolving questions protection. 12 supra, conviction man charged group court judges inefficient, took excessive vacations, investigations vice, possibly subject 'racketeer influences.' Louisiana statements 'criticisms manner eight conducted when session, accusations crime' 'personal attacks integrity honesty' judges. rejected proposed distinction: 'Of course, criticism performs duties will tend affect private, well public, rendered inapplicable merely reputation, harmed. public-official protects paramount flow information people officials, servants. To end, relevant. Few personal attributes are germane dishonesty, malfeasance, improper motivation, though characteristics may character.' U.S., 76—77, S.Ct., 217. 14 supra. 15 considerations led us thus reformulate terms 'anything office' force candidate. Indeed, whatever vitality retain regard cf. 72 n. 8, 215, clearly context campaign. principal activity system, 'office,' speak, consists putting voters every conceivable aspect life thinks lead electorate gain impression him. A who, example, seeks further cause through prominent display wife children argue qualities husband father remain 'purely private' concern. vaunts spotless record sterling cannot convincingly cry 'Foul!' opponent industrious reporter attempts demonstrate contrary.4 Any test adequate safeguard guarantees area go beyond customary phrase realities life, easy see what altogether relevance seeks. clash reputations staple campaigns, damage reputation essence remains some exiguous defamation full recourse need form question: instruction, others like it, left leeway act censors consistent setting 16 traditional concepts tort campaign bound raise dangers freedom speech press. reasonable-man liability, serves admirably essential function imposing objective socially acceptable limit relation others. system government, chosen afford 'opinions loathe believe fraught death,' Abrams 250 616, 630, 40 22, 63 L.Ed. 1173 (Holmes, J., dissenting). community imposed legal all deemed 'unreasonable' abandoned know it. Likewise, plays indispensable role control negligence. recognized realm 'the tenets seem rankest error neighbor,' advocates whom protect resort 'exaggeration, vilification men been, are, church state, statement,' Cantwell Connecticut, 310 296, 310, 60 900, 906, 1213. simply inconsistent commitment permit imposition 'more probably otherwise' 'would relevant' Speiser Randall, 357 513, 525—526, 78 1332, 1341—1342, 1460; Smith California, 361 147, 80 205. 17 perhaps unavoidable Constitution various uncertainty protected. mental element required test, always ascertainment. 'Inevitably outer limits marked out case-by-case adjudication, many standards judging concrete provided Constitution, statutes, law.' St. Amant Thompson, 390 727, 730—731, 88 1323, 1325, 20 262. major, decisive, difference care, 'relevance' past incident care 'can neutral respect content involved, historical taint, adjusted strike fair balance interests circulation individuals seeking recompense harm done falsehood.' 153, 1990 (opinion Harlan, J.). 'relevance,' hand, especially such preponderance-of-the-evidence unlikely holds real danger becoming instrument suppression 'vehement, caustic, sometimes unpleasantly sharp attacks.' Times, 270, 721, protected prevail. therefore hold Sullivan. make own unguided determination prior 'relevant,' inapplicable, remanded proceedings opinion. 19 ordered. Judgment 21 Separate BLACK, DOUGLAS joins. 22 I concur judgments 118, reasons set my concurring 293, 733, 686 (1964), dissenting 170, 1999, 1094 (1967), Douglas' 80, 218—219, 125 (1964). However, dissent portions opinions 118 tried again different stated before, '(I)t abandon Sullivan adopt effect leave harassment judgments.' 172, 2000. (separate Black, portion 'Political Snafu 'Rock-ribbed Republican whose ex-Gov. Sherman Adams top kick White House years Sen. Styles Bridges GOP side fouled up snafu year. due next Tuesday. 'Even able Senate stalwart, Bridges, restirring himself. He nothing worry opponent, Democrats put dynamic Dartmouth professor, Herbert Hill, professor came 11,000 votes defeating Adams, lately vicuna-coat fame, 1948 gubernatorial race. 'Curiously, cluttered motley assortment Hill privilege running Bridges. sly, old disclaims connection appears pleased over muddying waters. 'One Hill's opponents Frank L. released Grasmere County Work Farm just file Senate. With police fewer convictions drunkenness 1945, serving latest 90-day sentence. 'Curious Call 'To sure get run Marshal, telephoned warden 'Ralph LaVallee Grasmere, admitted received telephone inquiry file. denied another report announced calling behalf friend Styles.' "I don't want implicated that,' said LaVallee, 'Roy didn't mention Bridges.' 'Sullivan happily got workhouse distinguished legislative body world. should turn ballot same eager him clink. 'Because peculiar population division Irish Catholics inclined vote while French Canadians attracted name Roy. cut down Herb chances. 'Convicts For 'Two curious Harold McCarthy nine drunkenness, assault, brawling, Clement Robinson Jr., six brushes traffic violations. 30-day suspended sentence stealing power lawnmowers nonsupport children. 'But Professor managed persuade Ballot Law Commission into knocking off ballot.' gave following definition occasion': 'If end attained justifiable, give useful right ought information, occasion lawful. Where, color defendant, instead acting assumes pretense publish circulate unlawful liable resorted to.' placed occasion' defendants. One Kansas decision inclusion rule: utmost consequence discuss qualifications suffrages. society discussions vast advantages derived counterbalance inconvenience persons occasional injury yield welfare, although times great. benefit publicity chance small privileged.' Coleman MacLennan, Kan. 711, 724, 98 281, 286 (1908). commentator writing 1949 described ambience 'Charges gross incompetence, communist sympathies, usually filled air; hints bribery, embezzlement, infrequent. actionable field, suppose chief energies courts, absorbed slander suits.' Noel, Defamation Public Officers Candidates, 49 Col.L.Rev. 875.

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