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COX BROADCASTING CORP. v. COHN Case Brief
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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: A TV station published a rape victim’s name obtained from public court records. The victim’s father sued for invasion of privacy. The Supreme Court held that the First Amendment protects the publication of truthful information contained in public records, barring the privacy claim.
Legal Significance: Establishes a constitutional privilege under the First Amendment for the press to publish truthful information lawfully obtained from public records, even if the information is sensitive. This significantly limits the tort of public disclosure of private facts when the information is publicly available.
COX BROADCASTING CORP. v. COHN Law School Study Guide
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Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
The 17-year-old daughter of appellee Martin Cohn was raped and murdered. A Georgia statute made it a misdemeanor to publish the name of a rape victim. During the criminal proceedings against the perpetrators, a reporter for appellant Cox Broadcasting Corp. learned the victim’s name by examining the indictments, which were public records available in the courtroom. The reporter’s television station subsequently broadcast the victim’s name in a news report. Cohn sued Cox Broadcasting for invasion of his privacy, relying on both the Georgia statute and the common law tort of public disclosure. The Georgia Supreme Court held that Cohn had a valid common law claim for invasion of privacy and that the First Amendment did not protect the publication. The court reasoned that the statute represented a state policy that a rape victim’s identity was not a matter of public concern. Cox Broadcasting appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing its broadcast was constitutionally privileged under the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Does the First Amendment prohibit a state from imposing civil liability on a media defendant for the accurate publication of a rape victim’s name obtained from official court records that are open to public inspection?
Yes. The state may not impose civil liability for the accurate publication Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure d
IRAC Legal Analysis
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IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.
Legal Issue
Does the First Amendment prohibit a state from imposing civil liability on a media defendant for the accurate publication of a rape victim’s name obtained from official court records that are open to public inspection?
Conclusion
This case establishes a near-absolute First Amendment right to report on information Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magn
Legal Rule
The First and Fourteenth Amendments command that states may not impose sanctions Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud e
Legal Analysis
The Court's analysis centered on the critical role of the press in Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt moll
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- The First Amendment bars states from imposing civil liability for the