First Amendment Library
ADVANCED SEARCHASSOCIATED PRESS v. WALKER, 389 U.S. 28 (1967)
- Argued:
- N/A
- Decided:
- October 16, 1967
- Decided by:
- Warren Court, 1967
- Legal Principle at Issue:
- Are public figures subject to the actual malice standard for libel as articulated in New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)?
- Action:
- Reversed and remanded. Walker’s damages award was overturned.
Facts/Syllabus:
Edwin Walker, a retired U.S. general, was reported by the Associated Press to have “[a]ssumed command” of a crowd of anti-desegregation protests at the University of Mississippi and led them in a charge against the U.S. Marshals. The story was published by newspapers subscribing to the Associated Press, and Walker sued for libel and was awarded compensatory damages. This was a companion case to Curtis Pub. Co. v. Butts (1967).
Importance of Case:
The Court held that Walker was a “public figure,” given “his personal activity amounting to a thrusting of his personality into the ‘vortex’ of an important public controversy.” The Court reasoned that public figures who are not public officials may recover damages for libel stemming from false reports based on “highly unreasonable conduct constituting an extreme departure from the standards of investigation and reporting ordinarily adhered to by responsible publishers.” This is a lesser standard than “actual malice” required for public officials under New York Times v. Sullivan (1964).
Advocates for Respondent
Advocates for Petitioner
Majority Opinion
John Harlan (1955-71) Potter Stewart Thurgood Marshall William Brennan Byron White Earl Warren Abe Fortas
Concurring Opinion
Dissenting Opinion
No opinions found
ASSOCIATED PRESS
v.
WALKER.
ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF APPEAL OF LOUISIANA, SECOND CIRCUIT.William P. Rogers, Leo P. Larkin, Jr., Stanley Godofsky, Arthur Moynihan, Earl T. Thomas, John T. Guyton and Billy R. Pesnell for petitioner.W. Scott Wilkinson and Clyde J. Watts for respondent.PER CURIAM.
The petition for a writ of certiorari is granted. The judgment is reversed and the case is remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with Curtis Publishing Co. v. Butts, 388 U. S. 130.
MR. JUSTICE BLACK, with whom MR. JUSTICE DOUGLAS joins, concurs in the result for the reasons stated in MR. JUSTICE BLACK’S separate opinion in Curtis Publishing Co. v. Butts, 388 U. S. 130, 170.
ULYSSES TORY, et al. v. JOHNNIE L. COCHRAN, JR., 544 U.S. 734 (2005)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
JEFFREY M. MASSON v. NEW YORKER MAGAZINE, INC., ALFRED A. KNOPF, INC. AND JANET MALCOLM, 501 U.S. 496 (1991)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
MILKOVICH v. LORAIN JOURNAL CO. et al., 497 U.S. 1 (1990)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
HARTE-HANKS COMMUNICATIONS, INC. v. CONNAUGHTON, 491 U.S. 657 (1989)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
HUSTLER MAGAZINE AND LARRY C. FLYNT v. JERRY FALWELL, 485 U.S. 46 (1988)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
ANDERSON et al. v. LIBERTY LOBBY, INC., et al., 477 U.S. 242 (1986)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
PHILADELPHIA NEWSPAPERS, INC., et al. v. HEPPS et al., 475 U.S. 767 (1986)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
DUN & BRADSTREET, INC. v. GREENMOSS BUILDERS, INC., 472 U.S. 749 (1985)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
BOSE CORP. v. CONSUMERS UNION OF UNITED STATES, INC., 466 U.S. 485 (1984)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
WOLSTON v. READER’S DIGEST ASSOCIATION, INC., et al., 443 U.S. 157 (1979)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
HERBERT v. LANDO et al., 441 U.S. 153 (1979)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
TIME, INC. v. FIRESTONE, 424 U.S. 448 (1976)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
GERTZ v. ROBERT WELCH, INC., 418 U.S. 323 (1974)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
MIAMI HERALD PUBLISHING CO., DIVISION OF KNIGHT NEWSPAPERS, INC. v. TORNILLO, 418 U.S. 241 (1974)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
ROSENBLOOM v. METROMEDIA, INC., 403 U.S. 29 (1971)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
MONITOR PATRIOT CO. et al. v. ROY, EXECUTRIX, 401 U.S. 265 (1971)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
TIME, INC. v. PAPE, 401 U.S. 279 (1971)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
OCALA STAR-BANNER CO. et al. v. DAMRON, 401 U.S. 295 (1971)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
GREENBELT COOPERATIVE PUBLISHING ASSN., INC., et al. v. BRESLER, 398 U.S. 6 (1970)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
PICKERING v. BOARD OF EDUCATION OF TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 205, WILL COUNTY, 391 U.S. 563 (1968)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
BECKLEY NEWSPAPERS CORP. v. HANKS, 389 U.S. 81 (1967)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
CURTIS PUBLISHING CO. v. BUTTS, 388 U.S. 130 (1967)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
ROSENBLATT v. BAER, 383 U.S. 75 (1966)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
HENRY v. COLLINS, 380 U.S. 356 (1965)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
NEW YORK TIMES CO. v. SULLIVAN, 376 U.S. 254 (1964)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
FARMERS EDUCATIONAL & COOPERATIVE UNION OF AMERICA, NORTH DAKOTA DIVISION, v. WDAY, INC., 360 U.S. 525 (1959)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
BEAUHARNAIS v. ILLINOIS, 343 U.S. 250 (1952)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
NEAR v. MINNESOTA EX REL. OLSON, COUNTY ATTORNEY, 283 U.S. 697 (1931)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Defamation and the Press
Topics: Defamation and the Press, Freedom of the Press
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