Supreme Court Rejects Dershowitz CNN Lawsuit
Analysis based on 33 articles · First reported Apr 20, 2026 · Last updated Jun 29, 2026
The United States — Supreme Court of the United States' decision to not revive Alan Dershowitz's defamation lawsuit against CNN reinforces the high legal bar for public figures to win libel cases, which is generally positive for media companies like CNN as it protects them from such lawsuits. This upholds the precedent set by The New York Times, ensuring continued strong First Amendment protections for the press.
The United States — Supreme Court of the United States refused to revive a $300 million defamation lawsuit filed by Alan Dershowitz against CNN. Dershowitz, a prominent attorney and retired Harvard Law School professor, alleged that CNN distorted his remarks made while defending Donald Trump during his 2020 impeachment trial. He claimed CNN aired only a portion of his comment, making it seem like he argued a president could avoid impeachment for illegal acts if done for reelection, a concept he called 'preposterous.' CNN countered that it aired his full remarks and invited him on air to clarify. Lower courts dismissed the suit, finding Dershowitz failed to show CNN acted with 'actual malice,' the standard required for public figures under The New York Times. Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch dissented, calling for a reconsideration of this legal standard.
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