Assess the reasoning for the issue of free speech versus fair trial in the Supreme Court case Sheppard v. Mitchell
a. The court decided that the attention the press gave to the case did not allow for a fair trial because of the influence the publicity could have on the jurors and judge.
b. The court decided that a fair trial is a more important right than free speech because a fair trial allows the accused to be free if they are not guilty of the crime.
c. The court decided that the defendant was tried by public opinion and the defendant had the right to free speech to defend himself in the press and speak out about the trial.
d. The court decided that free speech is the reason the defendant was given a fair trial and it was important to allow the press to print stories about the trial.
a. The court decided that the attention the press gave to the case did not allow for a fair trial because of the influence the publicity could have on the jurors and judge.
In the case of Sheppard v. Mitchell, the Supreme Court ultimately ruled that the extensive media coverage surrounding the trial of Dr. Sam Sheppard for the murder of his wife had resulted in an unfair trial. The court determined that the intense media scrutiny had turned the trial into a spectacle and had likely influenced the jurors and judge, preventing Sheppard from receiving a fair trial.
The issue at hand was the conflict between the defendant's right to a fair trial guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment and the First Amendment right to free speech of the press. The court ultimately prioritized the fair trial rights of the defendant over the free speech rights of the press, ruling that the excessive publicity had infringed upon Sheppard's right to a fair trial.
This ruling highlights the delicate balance between free speech and fair trial rights in high-profile cases, and the importance of ensuring that the media coverage does not unduly influence the outcome of a trial.