Judge says he will dismiss Sarah Palin's libel case against The New York Times


A federal judge in New York said Monday he will dismiss a libel lawsuit former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin filed against The New York Times over a 2017 editorial.
The editorial linked Palin to the 2011 mass shooting in Arizona that left six people dead and seriously injured former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.). Palin accused the Times and former editorial page director James Bennet of defaming her by unfairly connecting her to the incident.
U.S. District Court Judge Jed Rakoff said in his ruling that Palin's attorneys did not produce adequate evidence showing that the Times knew the information was false or acted with "actual malice." Rakoff also said the jury in the case will continue deliberating, since it's likely Palin will appeal and he wants a future court to consider their verdict. Jurors are expected to continue deliberations on Tuesday.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Times' editorial suggested a link between a shooting map that Palin's political action committee issued and the Arizona shooting. There were mistakes made during the editing process, Bennet testified, and within hours of the editorial being published, the Times issued two corrections. In her lawsuit, Palin claimed that because of this editorial, her reputation was damaged and she lost opportunities for speaking engagements.
Rakoff said this was "an example of very unfortunate editorializing on the part of the Times, but, having said that, that's not the issue before this court."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures A sea of kites, a game of sand hockey, and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US
-
G20: Viola Davis stars in 'ludicrous' but fun action thriller
The Week Recommends The award-winning actress plays the 'swashbuckling American president' in this newly released Prime Video film
By The Week UK
-
The Masters: Rory McIlroy finally banishes his demons
In the Spotlight McIlroy's grand slam triumph will go down as 'one of the greatest and most courageous victories in the history of golf'
By The Week UK
-
$300M lawsuit against Greenpeace has environmentalists on edge
In the spotlight The organization says the future of advocacy and free speech is at risk
By Theara Coleman, The Week US
-
ABC News to pay $15M in Trump defamation suit
Speed Read The lawsuit stemmed from George Stephanopoulos' on-air assertion that Trump was found liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Judge blocks Louisiana 10 Commandments law
Speed Read U.S. District Judge John deGravelles ruled that a law ordering schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms was unconstitutional
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
ATF finalizes rule to close 'gun show loophole'
Speed Read Biden moves to expand background checks for gun buyers
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Hong Kong passes tough new security law
Speed Read It will allow the government to further suppress all forms of dissent
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
France enshrines abortion rights in constitution
speed read It became the first country to make abortion a constitutional right
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Texas executes man despite contested evidence
Speed Read Texas rejected calls for a rehearing of Ivan Cantu's case amid recanted testimony and allegations of suppressed exculpatory evidence
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Supreme Court wary of state social media regulations
Speed Read A majority of justices appeared skeptical that Texas and Florida were lawfully protecting the free speech rights of users
By Peter Weber, The Week US