New York Times v. Sullivan

New York Times v. Sullivan (1964) is a landmark Supreme Court case that established the principle of "actual malice" in libel cases involving public figures. The case arose when the New York Times published an ad criticizing local officials in Alabama, which led to a defamation lawsuit by L.B. Sullivan, a city commissioner. The Supreme Court ruled that public officials must demonstrate that a statement was made with knowledge of its falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth to win a libel case. This decision strengthened free speech protections, allowing criticism of government officials without fear of legal reprisal.