Rosenblatt v. Baer

Petitioner

Mr. Rosenblatt

Respondent

Mr. Baer

Petitioner's Claim

That by finding Rosenblatt negligent in a civil libel case involving public affairs, a New Hampshire state court violated his freedom of speech, and limited public discussion.

Chief Lawyer for Petitioner

Arthur H. Nighswander

Chief Lawyer for Respondent

Stanley M. Brown

Justices for the Court

William J. Brennan, Jr. (writing for the Court), Tom C. Clark, William O. Douglas, Potter Stewart, Hugo Lafayette Black, Earl Warren, Byron R. White

Justices Dissenting

John Marshall Harlan II, Abe Fortas

Place

Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision

21 February 1966

Decision

Overturned state court's ruling, deciding that Rosenblatt's article was not libelous, and that finding it so would limit free discussion matters of public interest.

Related Cases

• Thornhill v. Alabama, 310 U.S. 88 (1940).
• New York Times v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964).
• Garrison v. Louisiana, 379 U.S. 64 (1964).
• Herbert v. Lando, 441 U.S. 153 (1979).

Further Readings

• Biskupic, Joan, and Elder Witt. Guide to the U.S. Supreme Court. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly, Inc., 1997.