United States v. New York Times Co.

**United States v. New York Times Co.** (1971) was a landmark Supreme Court case concerning freedom of the press. The government tried to stop the New York Times from publishing the Pentagon Papers, a classified document revealing U.S. government missteps during the Vietnam War. The Court ruled that prior restraint—preventing publication before it happens—was unconstitutional, emphasizing that a free press is essential for democracy. This decision reinforced the idea that the government cannot censor news, even if it involves sensitive information, as it protects public interest in transparency and accountability.