Byron White

“ In reversing the Maryland Court of Appeals, the Court does not deny that the Constitution would permit recovery for charging the crime of blackmail, or even for falsely accusing one of 'blackmail' in a noncriminal but derogatory sense 'injurious to the private character or credit of the person.' The Court does not deny that the jury was told it had the authority to decide in what sense a word was used or understood, nor does the Court question the conclusion of the Court of Appeals that the jury had found that the word had been used and understood in the criminal sense. ”

“ I see no reason why the members of a skilled calling should not be held to the standard of their craft and assume the risk of being misunderstood-if they are-by the ordinary reader of their publications. ”

“ The New York Times case was an effort to effectuate the policies of the First Amendment by recognizing the difficulties of ascertaining the truth of allegations about a public official whom the newspaper is investigating with an eye to publication. Absent protection for the nonreckless publication of 'facts' that subsequently prove to be false, the danger is that legitimate news and communication will be suppressed. ”