Clarence Thomas Wants to Blow Up Defamation Law

This week, the Supreme Court declined to take up an appeal by Kathrine McKee, a woman who publicly accused Bill Cosby of raping her more than 40 years ago. As part of this decision, Clarence Thomas issued an alarming concurring opinion that may signal the start of a prolonged attack on the First Amendment in the courts.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has set his sights on an end to libel law as we know it. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

This week, the Supreme Court declined to take up an appeal by Kathrine McKee, a woman who publicly accused Bill Cosby of raping her more than 40 years ago. As part of this decision, Clarence Thomas issued an alarming concurring opinion that may signal the start of a prolonged attack on the First Amendment in the courts. In this episode of Boom! Lawyered, Rewire.News legal experts Imani Gandy and Jessica Mason Pieklo explain how this fight may take shape and what could change forever if Thomas’s position wins out.

Transcript (PDF)