The Zenger Decision: The Golden Rule

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Showing posts with label The Golden Rule. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

The Golden Rule

Norman Rockwell ~ The Golden Rule

"Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You"

The Zenger Decision

No case in American history stands as a greater landmark on the road to protection for freedom of the press than the trial of a German immigrant printer named John Peter Zenger. Zenger was defended by Philadelphia attorney Andrew Hamilton, who argued that published statements could not be libelous if they were true. English law at the time, which was designed to protect the government from critical elements, dictated that truth was not a defense to libel. However, on August 5, 1735, twelve New York jurors ignored the instructions of the Governors's hand-picked judges and returned a verdict of "Not Guilty" on the charge of publishing "seditious libels." This decision proved to not only redefine the law of libel and slander but also to lay the foundation for the freedom of the press that we enjoy today.

The Zenger Decision

John Zenger ~ 1736

Andrew Hamilton ~ 1735

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Tuesday, November 11, 2008

The Golden Rule

The Zenger Decision

Quote Of The Day