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Howard v. Lyons, 360 U.S. 593 (1959)
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General SummaryThis case is from a collection containing the full text of over 16,000 Supreme Court cases from 1793 to the present. The body of Supreme Court decisions are, effectively, the final interpretation of the Constitution. Only an amendment to the Constitution can permanently overturn an interpretation and this has happened only four times in American history.
Howard v. Lyons, 360 U.S. 593 (1959)
Howard v. Lyons No. 57 Argued December 8-9 Restored to the calendar for reargument December 15, 1958 Reargued April 20-21, 1959 Decided June 29, 1959 360 U.S. 593
CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT
Syllabus
While petitioner was a Captain in the Navy and Commander of the Boston Naval Shipyard, he withdrew recognition of the Federal Employees Veterans Association, of which respondents were officers, and sent an official report of his action, reciting his dissatisfaction with the activities of the Association, to the Chief of the Bureau of Ships and the Chief of Industrial Relations of the Department of the Navy. In accordance with the policy and usual practice of the Navy, he also sent copies of the report to the members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation. Respondents sued him in a Federal District Court for libel, alleging malice. In defense, he pleaded absolute privilege.
Held:
1. The validity of petitioner’s claim of absolute privilege in the performance of his duties as an officer of the Federal Government must be judged by federal standards, to be formulated by the courts in the absence of legislative action by Congress. P. 567.
2. On the record in this case, it appears that the sending of copies of the report to the Massachusetts congressional delegation, the only publication before this Court, was in the discharge of petitioner’s official duties and in relation to matters committed to him for determination. Therefore, his plea of absolute privilege must be sustained. Barr v. Matteo, ante, p. 564. Pp. 597-598.
250 F.2d 912 reversed.
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Chicago: U.S. Supreme Court, "Syllabus," Howard v. Lyons, 360 U.S. 593 (1959) in 360 U.S. 593 360 U.S. 594. Original Sources, accessed November 22, 2024, http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=X6HMLH7YUKYPQBK.
MLA: U.S. Supreme Court. "Syllabus." Howard v. Lyons, 360 U.S. 593 (1959), in 360 U.S. 593, page 360 U.S. 594. Original Sources. 22 Nov. 2024. http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=X6HMLH7YUKYPQBK.
Harvard: U.S. Supreme Court, 'Syllabus' in Howard v. Lyons, 360 U.S. 593 (1959). cited in 1959, 360 U.S. 593, pp.360 U.S. 594. Original Sources, retrieved 22 November 2024, from http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=X6HMLH7YUKYPQBK.
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