What is the name of your state? What is the name of your state? What is the name of your state? New York
I'm reading in ``The Fact/Opinion Distinction: An Analysis of the Subjectivity of Language and Law'' by Michaele Sanders that the US Supreme Court has concluded that:
``Under the Fist Amendment there is no such thing as a false idea''
Sanders' article, however, states that although ``Most statements are an inseparable mixture of fact and opinion'', ``The concepts of fact and opinion are subject to rigid categorization only in most extreme situations''. Moreover, the US Supreme court states that ``… there is no constitutional value in false statements of fact. Neither the intentional lie nor the careless error materially advance society's interest in `uninhibited, robust, and wide-open' debate on public issues''.
Therefore, it appears, that the statement that ``Under the First Amendment there is no such thing as a false idea'' is a subject of qualification in extreme situations and that gives a glimmer of hope that truth can prevail, especially when it comes to substantial issues of public interest.
My question is, how is this to be accomplished in purely practical terms? Can an individual himself, without an attorney, appear directly before the US Supreme Court as his own counsel and request that the US Supreme Court rule as to whether an issue comprising an extreme opinion/fact situation of major national interest is his opinion or is it an objective fact?
Thanks a lot for your help.
I'm reading in ``The Fact/Opinion Distinction: An Analysis of the Subjectivity of Language and Law'' by Michaele Sanders that the US Supreme Court has concluded that:
``Under the Fist Amendment there is no such thing as a false idea''
Sanders' article, however, states that although ``Most statements are an inseparable mixture of fact and opinion'', ``The concepts of fact and opinion are subject to rigid categorization only in most extreme situations''. Moreover, the US Supreme court states that ``… there is no constitutional value in false statements of fact. Neither the intentional lie nor the careless error materially advance society's interest in `uninhibited, robust, and wide-open' debate on public issues''.
Therefore, it appears, that the statement that ``Under the First Amendment there is no such thing as a false idea'' is a subject of qualification in extreme situations and that gives a glimmer of hope that truth can prevail, especially when it comes to substantial issues of public interest.
My question is, how is this to be accomplished in purely practical terms? Can an individual himself, without an attorney, appear directly before the US Supreme Court as his own counsel and request that the US Supreme Court rule as to whether an issue comprising an extreme opinion/fact situation of major national interest is his opinion or is it an objective fact?
Thanks a lot for your help.