Court Opinion

ID: 9421520
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-02 22:58:41.93105+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:22:30.897369
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Douglas,
dissenting.
The Court of Appeals ruled that the question of the defense of qualified privilege on which we vacate and remand had been “waived” by petitioner and therefore should not be considered by the Court of Appeals under its Rules. That question therefore is not here for us nor should it be reached by the Court of Appeals. I cannot say that the Court of Appeals misconstrued its own Rules* or committed palpable error in refusing to consider *174the question or unceremoniously and improperly reached for a constitutional question which it should have sought to avoid. Under these circumstances it is an unwarranted exercise of our supervisory powers to require that the question be considered by the Court of Appeals. Instead, we should exercise our discretion by denying certiorari.

“A concise statement of the points on which appellant intends to rely, set forth in separate, numbered paragraphs. Each point shall refer to the alleged error upon which appellant intends to rely.” Rule 17 (c)(7).
“Points not presented according to the rules of the court, will be disregarded, though the court, at its option, may notice and pass upon a plain error not pointed out or relied upon.” Rule 17 (i).