WASHINGTON—A closely divided Supreme Court dismissed a claim June 17 that a New York City public-access television network could be sued for allegedly violating the free-speech protections of the First Amendment.
The 5-to-4 opinion on Manhattan Community Access Corp. v. Halleck, written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, held that Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN) was not bound by the First Amendment because it was not a “state actor.” Joining the opinion were Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch.
