Clarence Thomas
Role at the time: Supreme Court justice dissenting from denial of review
Condemned
Statement summary
Thomas calls for reconsidering the actual-malice standard for public figures and says he would have granted review in Dershowitz v. CNN.
“I and others have thus called for reconsideration of the actual-malice ... standard for public figures.”
Read the original text (opens in a new tab)Dershowitz v. CNN: Thomas dissent joined by Gorsuch · Supreme Court of the United States
The Court denies review. Thomas, joined by Gorsuch, calls for reconsidering the actual-malice rule for public figures.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Why we used this label
Thomas calls for reconsidering the protection examined in this case, arguing that its public-figure standard lacks a constitutional basis. His dissent criticizes retaining that rule.