New+York+Times+Co.

**New York Times Co. vs Sullivan (1964) Sam Odak**
In 1960, the //Times// ran a fundraising advertisement signed by civil-rights leaders that criticized, certain actions of the Montgomery, Ala., police department. Some of the facts in the advertisement were incorrect. Although no names were mentioned, L. B. Sullivan, Montgomery's police commissioner at the time, sued the //Times// for libel and won $500,000 in an Alabama court. The newspaper appealed, and the case reached the U.S. Supreme Court.

At issue was the protection given press criticism of the official conduct of public officials. Should the first amendment protect statements of defamation and libel?

The U.S. Supreme Court held that First Amendment protection of free speech is not dependent on the truth, popularity, or usefulness of the expressed ideas.