UGA To Host Former Supreme Court Justice Stevens

The landmark ruling affirmed the freedom of journalists to investigate government officials and other public figures.

In 1964—just over a decade before Stevens was appointed to the bench—-the Supreme Court ruled the New York Times did not commit libel when it ran an ad paid for by civil rights activists criticizing Alabama law enforcement officials for their handling of civil rights protests.

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The so-called Sullivan ruling set a precedent for Stevens and future justices in freedom-of-the-press cases.

“It was really the beginning of the Court thinking about the role the press plays and individuals play in our public debate.  There had been very little commentary from the Court, prior to Sullivan,” said Sonja West, an associate professor of law at UGA.

The Sullivan case established a very high burden of proof for public figures who accuse journalists of libel.  They have to prove reporters not only published wrong information, but did it with malicious intent.

President Gerald Ford appointed Stevens to the Supreme Court in 1975.

He stepped down from the bench in 2010, and is still well-admired by his colleagues.

“Recently in an interview that Justice (Antonin) Scalia gave, he was asked about which justice he most respected and enjoyed sparring with and he said Justice Stevens.  Because, much like Justice Scalia, who also will say what he thinks, Justice Stevens had a similar approach although often on the other side of the case,” says West.

Wednesday’s conference is free and open to the public, but attendees must pre-register.