Mcdonald v. Smith (472 U.S. 479)
U.S. Supreme Court · decided June 19, 1985 · Supreme Court Database (Spaeth)
- Citation
- 472 U.S. 479 · 105 S. Ct. 2787
- Decided
- June 19, 1985
- Term
- October Term 1984
- Vote
- 8–0
- Majority author
- Justice Burger
- Issue area
- First Amendment
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome
- Petitioning party lost
- Ideological direction
- Conservative
Opinion excerpt
Chief Justice Burger delivered the opinion of the Court. We granted certiorari to decide whether the Petition Clause of the First Amendment provides absolute immunity to a defendant charged with expressing libelous and damaging falsehoods in letters to the President of the United States. I In July 1981, respondent commenced a libel action against petitioner in state court under the common law of North Carolina. Respondent alleged that while he was being considered for the position of United States Attorney, petitioner wrote two letters to President Reagan. The complaint alleges that these letters “contained false, slanderous, libelous, inflammatory and derogatory statements” concerning respondent. App. 4-5. In particular, the complaint states that the letters falsely accused respondent of “violating the civil rights of various individuals while a Superior Court Judge,” “fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud,” “extortion or blackmail,” and “violations of professional ethics.” Id., at 5-6. Respondent alleged that petitioner knew that these accusations were false, and that petitioner maliciously intended to injure respondent by undermining his prospect of being appointed United States Attorney. The complaint alleges that petitioner mailed copies of the letters to Presidential Adviser Edwin Meese, Senator Jesse Helms, Representative W. E. Johnston, and three other officials in the…
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