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Supreme Court Rejects Dershowitz Appeal, Defends CNN Defamation Ruling

6/29/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Supreme Court refused to hear Alan Dershowitz’s appeal of his $300 million defamation suit against CNN, leaving lower-court rulings that favored the network intact.
Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch dissented, calling for a reconsideration of the “actual malice” standard for public-figure defamation cases.
Courts in 2023 and 2025 ruled Dershowitz did not meet the New York Times v. Sullivan actual-malice test.
CNN warned that overturning the standard would harm press-freedom protections.

History

Historical Context

1964 the Warren Court issued a unanimous 9-0 ruling in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, overturning a $500,000 verdict and establishing the “actual malice” test that protects journalists covering public officials. The rule, later applied to public figures, is now under review after the Supreme Court denied Alan Dershowitz’s $300 million defamation appeal against CNN, with Justices Thomas and Gorsuch urging reconsideration.

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Story summary

The Supreme Court refused to hear Alan Dershowitz’s appeal of his $300 million defamation suit against CNN, leaving lower-court rulings that favored the network intact.
Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch dissented, calling for a reconsideration of the “actual malice” standard for public-figure defamation cases.
Courts in 2023 and 2025 ruled Dershowitz did not meet the New York Times v. Sullivan actual-malice test.
CNN warned that overturning the standard would harm press-freedom protections.

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