Freedom Of The Press: Print Media Near -Vs- Minnesota

This 1931 case is a landmark judgement highlighting the constitutional protection given to the freedom of the press.

 

- Lawz Bureau

In this case, the County Attorney of Hennepin County brought an action against “The Saturday Press,” published by the Defendants in the city of Minneapolis. The Complainant alleged that the Defendants published and circulated editions of the above-named periodical which were largely devoted to “malicious, scandalous and defamatory articles” concerning Charles G. Davis, a Special Law Enforcement Officer employed by a civic organization, Frank W. Brunskill, who was the Chief of Police, the Minneapolis Tribune, the Minneapolis Journal, Melvin C. Passolt, George E. Leach, who was Mayor of Minneapolis, the Jewish race, the Members of the Grand Jury of Hennepin County then holding office, Floyd B. Olson (the relator in this action), who was County Attorney, and other persons.

 

Chief Justice Hughes delivered the opinion of the Court, stating therein that the articles charged in substance that a Jewish gangster was in control of gambling, bootlegging and racketeering in Minneapolis, and that law enforcing officers and agencies were not performing their duty up to the mark. Most of the charges were directed against the Chief of Police, who was charged with gross neglect of duty, having illicit relations with the gangsters, and with participation in graft. The County Attorney was charged with being fully aware of the same situation and not taking adequate measures to snub them. The Mayor was accused of inefficiency and dereliction. It was stated in the complaint that one member of the Grand Jury had sympathy with the gangsters.