This is the second lecture in ONU Law's Spring Lecture Series
Kormendy Lecture
Professor Samantha Barbas, Professor of Law, University at Buffalo School of Law and Author
11 am – Noon
VIRTUAL ZOOM EVENT LINK: https://onu.zoom.us/
Professor Samantha Barbas, Professor of Law, University at Buffalo School of Law and Author will present: “Actual Malice: Freedom of the Press and Civil Rights in New York Times v. Sullivan.”
In its landmark 1964 decision in New York Times v. Sullivan, the Supreme Court held that a public official must prove “actual malice” or reckless disregard of the truth in order to win a libel lawsuit. The case, which grew out of segregationists’ attempts to quash reporting on the civil rights movement, revolutionized media reporting and public discourse in America. In this lecture, based on a forthcoming book, Professor Barbas narrates the history of the Sullivan case, one of the most important First Amendment rulings in history, a case that is more critical and controversial than ever. She describes the legal issues and behind-the-scenes maneuvers that led to the Sullivan decision and the implications of New York Times v. Sullivan for the present day.
Professor Barbas is the author of several books on legal history, freedom of speech, and mass media law, including Newsworthy: The Supreme Court Battle Over Privacy and Press Freedom (Stanford University Press, 2017), and The Rise and Fall of Morris Ernst: Free Speech Renegade (University of Chicago Press, 2021). She is a recipient of a Public Scholar Award from the National Endowment for the Humanities.