Which trial established the principle that truthful statements about public officials could not be prosecuted as libel?

The Zenger Trial is significant in American legal history because it established the crucial principle that truthful statements about public officials cannot be prosecuted as libel. This case, which took place in 1735, involved John Peter Zenger, a German-American journalist who was charged with libel for publishing articles critical of the colonial governor of New York, William Cosby. Zenger's defense attorney, Andrew Hamilton, argued that the jury should consider the truth of Zenger's statements rather than whether the statements were damaging to Cosby's reputation.

The trial concluded with Zenger's acquittal, which set a precedent for the protection of free speech and laid foundational principles for the First Amendment rights in the United States. This outcome marked a pivotal moment in the development of a free press and established that government officials could not sue for libel if the statements made about them were true, thereby fostering a climate of political criticism that is essential for a functioning democracy. This perspective has significantly influenced libel laws in the United States, protecting journalists and the press from frivolous lawsuits when reporting on public figures.