Jury Rules Against Sarah Palin in Defamation Case Against The New York Times
A jury has ruled that The New York Times did not libel Sarah Palin, concluding the newspaper's editorial error did not meet the standard for defamation.
The jurors were speedy, returning the verdict within hours of starting their deliberations.
Jury Finds NY Times Did Not Defame Sarah Palin in Retrial
Epoch Times·23d·Mixed ReliableThis source has a mixed track record—sometimes accurate but also prone to bias, sensationalism, or incomplete reporting.RightThis outlet favors right-wing views.
The case had long been viewed by Palin and other conservatives as a possible vehicle to overturn the 1964 U.S. Supreme Court landmark New York Times v. Sullivan.
Jury finds New York Times not liable in Sarah Palin defamation case
USA TODAY·23d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
The jury deliberated a little over two hours before reaching its verdict after lawyers for Palin and the newspaper delivered closing arguments at a Manhattan federal court civil trial that was in its second week.
Jury finds The New York Times did not libel former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin
ABC News·23d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
The case garnered much attention not just because Palin and the Times are household names across the US but because it raised broader issues about free speech in the era of the return of Donald Trump, who relishes repeatedly calling the mainstream media versions of the “enemy of the people”.
Sarah Palin loses retrial of defamation case against New York Times
The Guardian·23d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.Leans LeftThis outlet slightly leans left.
The retrial’s outcome comes as little surprise, however, given both Rakoff and a federal jury ruled against Palin the first time around.
Sarah Palin loses her defamation retrial against The New York Times | Business
CNN·23d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.Leans LeftThis outlet slightly leans left.
In fact, no link was established between the PAC and the mass shooting, and the Times corrected the piece.
New York Times Not Liable For Defaming Sarah Palin, Jury Finds After Retrial Of Her Lawsuit
Deadline·23d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
The trial is occurring after the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan restored the case last year.
The New York Times didn't libel former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, jury finds
NBC News·23d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
The lawsuit centered on a 2017 editorial that falsely tied Ms. Palin’s rhetoric to the 2011 shooting in Arizona that killed six people and gravely wounded Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.
The New York Times Prevails Again Against Sarah Palin in Her Defamation Suit Retrial
New York Sun·23d·Mixed ReliableThis source has a mixed track record—sometimes accurate but also prone to bias, sensationalism, or incomplete reporting.RightThis outlet favors right-wing views.
Palin, a former Republican vice presidential nominee, lost a previous trial in 2022 against the media company but won a new one due to “several major issues” in the case, as a federal appellate panel put it last year.
Sarah Palin loses defamation retrial against New York Times
MSNBC·23d·Mostly ReliableThis source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.LeftThis outlet favors left-wing views.
Summary
In a retrial, a jury sided with The New York Times, ruling it did not libel Sarah Palin regarding an editorial from 2017 that she claimed harmed her reputation. The jury determined that the Times made an honest mistake and highlighted the challenge for public figures to prove actual malice in defamation cases. Despite her loss, Palin expressed a commitment to advocating for integrity in journalism. The case continues to spark discussions about media accountability and the legal standards surrounding defamation.
Perspectives
The jury found The New York Times not liable for defamation, reaffirming the legal principle that publishers are not responsible for honest mistakes.
Palin's claims were deemed unsubstantiated as she failed to prove actual malice under the current defamation standard, which is challenging for public figures.
The editorial that sparked the lawsuit contained errors, but the Times acted quickly to correct them, which played a significant role in the jury's decision.