Chapter 5
Libel: Proof of Fault
New York Times versus Sullivan, 1
The Case
Advertisement was placed by an ad hoc coalition of civil rights leaders called the “Committee to
Defend Martin Luther King and the Struggle for Freedom in the South.”
New York Times versus Sullivan: Rationale for the Ruling
It was evident that the case involved seditious libel. The United States is dedicated to the
notion that public discourse should be unrestricted, vibrant, and wide open.
Public Figures, 1
Three Categories of Public Figures
• Public officials
• All-purpose public figures
• Limited purpose public figures
Classifying Public Officials: Job Description
For the purposes of libel law, courts will examine the type of government employment a person
