Sarah Palin Granted New Defamation Trial Against The New York Times
Palin's Legal Battle with The New York Times Continues
The former Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, has been granted a new trial in her defamation case against The New York Times and its former opinion editor, James Bennet. This decision was made by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on August 28.
This is the latest development in Palin’s ongoing legal battle which revolves around a 2017 editorial published by The NY Times. The editorial linked Palin's political action committee to a 2011 shooting that seriously injured then-Representative Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.).
The decision to vacate the previous jury verdict and order a new trial was based on several alleged significant errors during the original trial. These errors include the exclusion of crucial evidence, improper jury instructions, and a mid-deliberation ruling by the district court that allegedly undermined the jury’s role.
Reactions to the Court's Decision
Charlie Stadtlander, NY Times Managing Director for External Communications, expressed disappointment at the court’s decision in an email to The Epoch Times. However, he remains confident that they will prevail in a retrial.
On the other hand, Palin celebrated the decision, describing it as “great news” on a social media platform.
Background of the Legal Dispute
The legal dispute began after The NY Times published an editorial titled “America’s Lethal Politics” on June 14, 2017. This was in the aftermath of a shooting at a congressional baseball practice that injured four people, including Representative Steve Scalise (R-La.).
The editorial alleged a “clear” and “direct” link between the 2011 Giffords shooting in Tucson, Arizona, and a map circulated by Palin’s political action committee. The map showed crosshairs over 20 congressional districts, including Giffords’s, implying it was a form of political incitement.
Palin filed a defamation lawsuit against The NY Times shortly after the editorial’s publication. She argued that it falsely suggested she was directly responsible for the Tucson shooting.
Previous Trial and Verdict
The district court initially dismissed Palin's claim in 2017, but the Second Circuit reinstated it in 2019, leading to a jury trial in 2022.
Despite the jury eventually returning a verdict of “not liable” for The NY Times, the district judge had already made a ruling under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50, effectively dismissing the case before the jury concluded its deliberations.
This ruling, combined with other alleged trial errors, led the Second Circuit to call for a new trial. The appellate court identified several critical issues that compromised the integrity of the original trial.
Preserving the Jury's Role
In its ruling, the Second Circuit emphasized the importance of preserving the jury’s role in the judicial process. The court stated, “The jury is sacrosanct in our legal system, and we have a duty to protect its constitutional role, both by ensuring that the jury’s role is not usurped by judges and by making certain that juries are provided with relevant proffered evidence and properly instructed on the law.”
The case is expected to return to the Southern District of New York for a retrial.
Bottom Line
The ongoing legal battle between Sarah Palin and The New York Times highlights the complexities and challenges of defamation cases. It also underscores the importance of the jury's role in the judicial process. As the case heads for a retrial, it will be interesting to see how these issues are addressed and what the outcome will be. What are your thoughts on this matter? Share this article with your friends and discuss. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6pm.
