Key facts
- The Supreme Court declined to hear Alan Dershowitz's appeal to revive his $300 million defamation lawsuit against CNN.
- The lawsuit concerned CNN's coverage of Dershowitz's remarks defending Donald Trump during his 2020 impeachment.
- Dershowitz argued that the 'actual malice' standard from New York Times v. Sullivan should be reconsidered.
- Lower courts dismissed the suit, finding Dershowitz failed to prove CNN acted with 'actual malice'.
The Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from attorney Alan Dershowitz, who sought to revive his $300 million defamation lawsuit against CNN. The case stemmed from CNN's coverage of Dershowitz's remarks made while defending President Donald Trump during his 2020 impeachment trial. Dershowitz alleged that CNN distorted his meaning by airing only a portion of his comments, making him appear to have "lost his mind." He argued that the landmark 'actual malice' standard, established in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, which requires public figures to prove defamatory statements were made with knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard for the truth, should be reconsidered. CNN countered that it aired his full remarks and that Dershowitz could not demonstrate the network's intent to mischaracterize his statements. Lower courts had previously dismissed the suit, ruling that Dershowitz had not met the 'actual malice' standard. Justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas dissented from the Supreme Court's decision not to hear the case, expressing a desire to revisit the legal precedent.