Overview
- The Supreme Court on June 29, 2026 declined to review Alan Dershowitz’s bid to revive a $300 million libel suit against CNN, leaving in place rulings that had dismissed his case.
- Lower courts found no evidence that CNN acted with “actual malice,” the legal standard from New York Times Co. v. Sullivan that requires proof a defendant knew a statement was false or recklessly disregarded the truth.
- Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch dissented from the court’s refusal and urged the high court to reconsider the Sullivan standard, but no other justices joined that call.
- CNN told courts it aired Dershowitz’s full remarks and gave him air time to respond, and appellate judges said available evidence showed reporters sincerely believed their coverage was accurate.
- The decision blocks an immediate narrowing of First Amendment protections for news organizations and follows other recent, unsuccessful bids to roll back Sullivan that legal scholars say could reshape defamation liability if taken up.