U.S. vs. Dorr

U.S. vs. Dorr Facts U.S. charged Fred Dorr of defamation from a published article and later convicted, according to the law every person who are guilty of defamation against government shall be criminally liable, based on section 8 Act. 292 of the commission. Issue Whether or not Fred Dorr has committed libel by publishing in the article that may consider an attack against government officials. Held It contains no attack upon the governmental system by which the authority of the United States is enforced in these Islands. The form of government by a Civil Commission and a Civil Governor is not assailed. It is the character of the men who are entrusted with the administration of the government that the writer is seeking to bring into disrepute by impugning the purity of their motives, their public integrity, and their private morals, and the wisdom of their policy. The publication of the article, therefore, no seditious tendency being apparent, constitutes no offense under Act No. 292, section 8.