Bloomberg Law Sarah Palin Loses Libel Lawsuit & Harvard Sues Trump
Apr 25, 2025
Samantha Barbas, a First Amendment expert and law professor, dives into the implications of the jury’s verdict in Sarah Palin's libel lawsuit against the New York Times, highlighting challenges public figures face in defamation cases. David Voreacos sheds light on Harvard University's lawsuit against the Trump administration, focusing on issues of academic independence and funding. Greg Stohr discusses the Trump administration's urgent appeals to the Supreme Court regarding the ban on transgender service members, with significant implications for LGBTQ rights.
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Palin's Defamation Lawsuit Origin
- Sarah Palin sued the New York Times claiming defamation over an editorial linking her campaign's graphic to a tragic shooting.
- The Times suggested the crosshairs graphic incited violence, which Palin's team denied, leading to a libel claim.
High Bar of Actual Malice
- The legal standard Palin had to meet was 'actual malice'—proving the Times knowingly published false statements.
- The first trial's jury ruled for the Times, influenced partly by the judge's warning on the verdict.
Negligence vs Reckless Disregard
- The main legal question was whether the Times editor acted with reckless disregard for the truth.
- The Times admitted mistakes but argued they were negligent, not malicious, which doesn't meet the libel threshold.
