Maliciously Quotes
More Maliciously Quotes
We should be particularly careful, therefore, adequately to protect the liberties which are embodied in the First and Fourteenth Amendments. It may be urged that deliberately and maliciously false statements have no conceivable value as free speech. That argument, however, is not responsive to the real issue presented by this case, which is whether that freedom of speech which all agree is constitutionally protected can be effectively safeguarded by a rule allowing the imposition of liability upon a jury's evaluation of the speaker's state of mind.
— Justice Arthur Joseph Goldberg, decision, New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, Supreme Court of the United States, 376 U.S. 254 (1964)
If individual citizens may be held liable in damages for strong words, which a jury finds false and maliciously motivated, there can be little doubt that public debate and advocacy will be constrained. And if newspapers, publishing advertisements dealing with public issues, thereby risk liability, there can also be little doubt that the ability of minority groups to secure publication of their views on public affairs and to seek support for their causes will be greatly diminished.
— Justice Arthur Joseph Goldberg, decision, New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, Supreme Court of the United States, 376 U.S. 254 (1964)
