Clay Communications, Inc. v. James M. Sprouse

423 U.S. 882

• Court: Supreme Court of the United States
• Decided: October 14, 1975
• Docket: 74-1384
• Status: Published

Opinion

423 U.S. 882

96 S.Ct. 145

46 L.Ed.2d 107

CLAY COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
v.
James M. SPROUSE.

No. 74-1384.

James M. SPROUSE

v.

CLAY COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

No. 75-17.

Supreme Court of the United States

October 6, 1975

Rehearing Denied Nov. 17, 1975.

See 423 U.S. 991, 96 S.Ct. 406.

Appeals of West Virginia.

The motion of American Newspaper Publishers Association for leave to file a brief, as amicus curiae, is granted. The petitions for writs of certiorari are denied. Mr. Justice BRENNAN would grant certiorari.

Mr. Justice DOUGLAS, being of the view, stated in his previous opinions1 and those of Mr. Justice Black,2 that any state or federal libel law imposing liability for discussion of public affairs abridges freedom of speech and of the press contrary to the First and Fourteenth Amendments, would grant certiorari in No. 74-1384 and summarily reverse.

1 Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc., 418 U.S. 323, 355-360, 94 S.Ct. 2997, 41 L.Ed.2d 789 (1974); Time, Inc. v. Hill, 385 U.S. 374, 401-402, 87 S.Ct. 534, 17 L.Ed.2d 456 (1967); Rosenblatt v. Baer, 383 U.S. 75, 88-91, 86 S.Ct. 669, 15 L.Ed.2d 597 (1966).

2 Time, Inc. v. Hill, 385 U.S. 374, 398-401, 87 S.Ct. 534, 17 L.Ed.2d 456 (1967); Rosenblatt v. Baer, 383 U.S. 75, 94-95, 86 S.Ct. 669, 15 L.Ed.2d 597 (1966); New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254, 293-297, 84 S.Ct. 710, 11 L.Ed.2d 686 (1964).