Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will get a second chance in her defamation lawsuit against The New York Times. A federal appeals court has pointed to several issues which it said undermines the reliability of the original outcome.
Palin’s lawsuit stems from a 2017 editorial in The New York Times. The piece linked the 2011 shooting of former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords to a map published by Palin’s political action committee.
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She claims that The Times’ editorial deliberately harmed her career as a political commentator and consultant by falsely linking her to the shooting.
The United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit specifically criticized the trial judge, Jed Rakoff, for dismissing the case before the jury had reached a verdict. Other concerns also included exclusion of crucial evidence as well as inaccurate jury instruction.
Shane Vogt, Palin’s attorney, responded to the ruling, saying that former Palin is pleased with the decision. Vogt said she views the decision as a very important step in holding publishers accountable for misleading content. He emphasized the importance of a fair trial where all relevant evidence is considered and the law is properly applied.
Although the case was originally dismissed, the appeals court allowed it to proceed in 2019. During the 2022 trial, Judge Rakoff granted a motion from The Times for a “directed verdict,” causing the trial to end before the jury reached its decision.
The New York Times has expressed disappointment to ABC News, but remains confident that it will prevail.
