For a public figure to win a defamation suit, what standard must they meet?

For a public figure to succeed in a defamation case, they must demonstrate that the defendant acted with "actual malice." This means that the public figure needs to show that the statement in question was made with knowledge of its falsity or with a reckless disregard for whether it was true or false.

This higher standard was established in the landmark Supreme Court case of New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, which aimed to balance the protection of free speech under the First Amendment with the need to protect individuals from defamatory statements. Since public figures have voluntarily placed themselves in the public eye and are often involved in discussions about matters of public interest, the law requires them to meet this stringent standard to prevent stifling robust public discourse and debate.

In contrast, private individuals have a lower threshold, where proving negligence may suffice. This distinction underscores the differing protections available based on the status of the person involved and their relationship to the matter being discussed.