High Court denies prosecutors immunity

Article Abstract:

The US Supreme Court has ruled in Buckley v. Fitzsimmons that prosecutors can be held liable for statements at press conferences about their cases. The stages of Stephen Buckley's murder trial included two years in jail before trial, a hung jury and declaration of mistrial, the death of a key prosecution witness before retrial and then the dropping of charges. Buckley sued the prosecutor for violating his civil rights with statements to the press announcing the indictment. The court held in favor of possible liability since statements to media were not part of courtroom advocacy.

Public prosecutors, Privileges and immunities

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Principal is public official, Vermont high court rules

Article Abstract:

The Vermont Supreme Court has agreed with a lower state court and upheld a summary judgment granted to a school board that was sued for libel. An elementary school principal sued the school board for libel after the board did not renew his contract, following allegations that he had falsified time records, and without giving him a hearing. Both courts ruled, however, that the principal was a public official and had to present enough evidence to prove actual malice in order to prevail in a libel suit, but that he had not done so.

Elementary school principals

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