Jury sides with Louisiana Supreme Court justice in rare defamation win for public official

Jury sides with Louisiana Supreme Court justice in rare defamation win for public official

An Iberville Parish jury awarded Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Jeff Hughes $300,000 in a defamation lawsuit against The Advocate and two former editors over a 2019 editorial regarding a past custody case.

Jury finds The Advocate defamed Louisiana Supreme Court Justice, awards $300K

The case stemmed from a 2019 editorial titled "Jeff Hughes has made a mockery of justice."

Testimony wraps up in Louisiana Supreme Court justice’s defamation case against The Advocate

A retired editor and a former editorial writer for The Advocate both took the witness stand Monday to defend the accuracy of a 2019 opinion piece criticizing Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Jefferson Hughes III's handling of a child custody case.

Louisiana Justice Wins $300K From Newspaper Over 2019 Custody Case Editorial

An Iberville Parish jury awarded Justice Jefferson Hughes III $300,000 after finding The Advocate defamed him in a 2019 editorial.

A jury awards $300K to a Louisiana supreme court judge who sued The Advocate for defamation over a 2019 editorial; the plaintiff sought $10M (Edward Helmore/The Guardian)

Edward Helmore / The Guardian: A jury awards $300K to a Louisiana supreme court judge who sued The Advocate for defamation over a 2019 editorial; the plaintiff sought $10M  —  Then Advocate editor-in-chief and writer testified editorial was not part of agenda against Jefferson Davis Hughes III