"A heroic narrative."—One of The New Yorker’s Best Books of 2023
"A detailed examination of . . . the landmark 1964 Supreme Court decision that defined libel laws and increased protections for journalists."—The New York Times Book Review
A deeply researched legal drama that documents this landmark First Amendment ruling—one that is more critical and controversial than ever.
Actual Malice tells the full story of New York Times v. Sullivan, the dramatic case that grew out of segregationists' attempts to quash reporting on the civil rights movement. In its landmark 1964 decision, the Supreme Court held that a public official must prove "actual malice" or reckless disregard of the truth to win a libel lawsuit, providing critical protections for free speech and freedom of the press.
Drawing on previously unexplored sources, including the archives of the New York Times Company and civil rights leaders, Samantha Barbas tracks the saga behind one of the most important First Amendment rulings in history. She situates the case within the turbulent 1960s and the history of the press, alongside striking portraits of the lawyers, officials, judges, activists, editors, and journalists who brought and defended the case. As the Sullivan doctrine faces growing controversy, Actual Malice reminds us of the stakes of the case that shaped American reporting and public discourse as we know it.
"This timely and compelling history underscores the critical, enduring importance of New York Times v. Sullivan for not only freedom of expression but also racial justice and other equal rights movements."—Nadine Strossen, author of Hate: Why We Should Resist It with Free Speech, Not Censorship and past National President, American Civil Liberties Union
"New York Times v. Sullivan is the most important Supreme Court decision about freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Samantha Barbas's terrific, riveting book shows that it also must be understood as a crucial decision about civil rights at a crucial moment of the civil rights movement."—Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean and Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law
