Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin filed a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, alleging that she was defamed by a 2017 editorial that linked her political action committee to the 2011 shooting of Rep. Gabby Giffords. The lawsuit was initially dismissed by Manhattan federal Judge Jed Rakoff, citing a lack of “actual malice” in Palin’s complaint. However, the 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals reinstated the lawsuit in 2019, leading to a new trial in February 2022.
The appeals court overturned Rakoff’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit in the middle of jury deliberations, stating that it improperly intruded on the jury’s role by making credibility determinations. The court also highlighted several major issues during the trial, including the exclusion of evidence, inaccurate jury instructions, and jurors learning about Rakoff’s dismissal of the complaint during deliberations. As a result, the appeals court ordered a new trial, emphasizing the importance of protecting the jury’s constitutional role.
The New York Times expressed disappointment in the appeals court’s decision but remained confident in prevailing in a retrial. Sarah Palin’s attorney, Shane Vogt, welcomed the ruling as a significant step towards holding publishers accountable for misleading content. Palin herself expressed satisfaction with the decision, highlighting the importance of presenting relevant evidence and proper legal instructions to the jury.
The overturning of the dismissal in Sarah Palin’s defamation lawsuit against The New York Times signifies a victory for the protection of free speech and the role of the jury in legal proceedings. The decision underscores the need for publishers to ensure the accuracy of their content and for courts to uphold the integrity of jury deliberations. It also sets a precedent for future cases involving defamation and media accountability.
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