Hustler Magazine and Larry C. Flynt v. Jerry Falwell
485 U.S. 46 · Decided February 24, 1988 · Supreme Court of the United States
Record summary. This page is generated from the Supreme Court Database’s coded data about the case. It describes who decided what, not the Court’s reasoning. Read the opinion itself before relying on it. Not legal advice.
At a glance
Hustler Magazine and Larry C. Flynt v. Jerry Falwell was decided on February 24, 1988 unanimously (8–0). The Court reversed the lower court's decision. Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Libel and defamation” in the First Amendment area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 485 U.S. 46 · 108 S. Ct. 876 · 99 L. Ed. 2d 41 · 1988 U.S. LEXIS 941
- Docket number
- 86-1278
- Decided
- February 24, 1988
- Argued
- December 2, 1987
- Court era
- Rehnquist Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Reversed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party received a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 8–0 (unanimous)
- Majority opinion
- William H. Rehnquist
- Opinion assigned by
- William H. Rehnquist
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Libel and defamation
- Issue area
- First Amendment
- Legal provision
- First Amendment (speech, press, and assembly)
- Type of law
- Constitutional amendment
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Liberal what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice Byron R. White | Special concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Majority | |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Majority | |
| Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Majority | |
| Justice Sandra Day O'Connor | Majority | |
| Justice Antonin Scalia | Majority |
Did not participate: Anthony M. Kennedy.
Full case caption
Hustler Magazine and Larry C. Flynt v. Jerry Falwell
SCDB identifiers: case 1987-035, docket 1987-035-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Libel and defamation”
- Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc. v. Connaughton
- Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc.
- Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc. v. HeppsLaw held unconstitutional
- Milkovich v. Lorain Journal Co.
- Dun & Bradstreet, Inc. v. Greenmoss Builders, Inc.
- McDonald v. Smith
Cases on the same legal provision: First Amendment (speech, press, and assembly)
- Michael Boos, J. Michael Waller and Bridget Brooker v. Marion S. Barry, Jr.Law held unconstitutional
- Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier
- Meyer v. GrantLaw held unconstitutional
- Shapero v. Kentucky Bar AssociationLaw held unconstitutional
- City of Lakewood v. Plain Dealer Publishing Co.Law held unconstitutional
- Frisby v. Schultz
Same Term, same area (First Amendment)
- Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier
- Department of the Navy v. Egan
- Michael Boos, J. Michael Waller and Bridget Brooker v. Marion S. Barry, Jr.Law held unconstitutional
- Richard E. Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association
- Employment Division v. Smith
- Meyer v. GrantLaw held unconstitutional
Source: Supreme Court Database, 2026 Release 01 (data file dated September 8, 2026). Imported into CaseTrail November 5, 2026. Coverage: decisions from the 1946 through 2025 Terms. Methodology · Report an error