Landmark Communications, Inc. v. Virginia
While Abrams had addressed the Supreme Court before, this was the first time he did so alone. A Landmark Communications newspaper, The Virginian Pilot, published a truthful article that stated that Judge H. Warrington Sharp was under investigation by a judicial fitness panel, implying that Sharp was unfit for his position as a public official. Under Virginian law, such investigations are supposed to remain confidential, so The Pilot was convicted without a jury and fined $500. When the case made its way to the Supreme Court, Abrams made a broad argument that by the First Amendment, the press should never be punished for printing the truth when that information is lawfully obtained. While the Court refused Abrams’ broad argument, they did vote unanimously with him and Landmark Communications, stating that protecting a judge’s reputation was insufficient grounds for criminal charges.
1978
