Palin vs. New York Times: A Retrial Unfolds

Sarah Palin and the New York Times are discussing a settlement for their defamation case, with a retrial set for 2025. An appeals court revived the lawsuit, questioning judicial rulings in the initial trial. This case could challenge the landmark 1964 New York Times v. Sullivan decision.

Sarah Palin and the New York Times have initiated talks to settle their high-profile defamation lawsuit, with a retrial scheduled for April 2025. Lawyers disclosed this development during a phone conference with U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff, following an appeals court decision to overturn a 2022 verdict favoring the Times.

Palin's 2017 lawsuit stemmed from a Times editorial suggesting her indirect involvement in a 2011 Arizona mass shooting, which quickly faced correction but allegedly damaged her reputation. The appeals court criticized Judge Rakoff for excluding critical evidence and problematic jury instructions, thus reviving the former vice presidential nominee's case.

This lawsuit challenges the precedent set by New York Times v. Sullivan, the 1964 Supreme Court decision requiring 'actual malice' for public figure defamation suits. The case, Palin v. New York Times, stands as a potential turning point in defamation law discourse, supported by some conservative justices advocating for its reevaluation.

(With inputs from agencies.)