Legal Commentary

Amanda Knox, the American college student convicted of murder in Italy, now faces charges that she slandered the Italian police by claiming they hit her in the course of questioning her about the murder.  The charge could end up adding another six years to her 26-year sentence for murder.  Evidently her mother also faces charges for repeating her allegations.  From an American perspective, the slander charges are an unnecessary absurdity.  Did Knox's allegation really endanger the reputation or dignity of the Italian police?  The case is a reminder of why we as Americans should be grateful that New York Times v. Sullivan protects us from being hauled up on seditious libel charges every time we venture to criticize government officials.  Sullivan undoubtedly has led to a coarsening of public discourse, but it has largely spared us from government officials using libel and slander actions to silence their critics.