Smith, Judge v. Daily Mail Publishing Co.

Summary

The Supreme Court affirmed the West Virginia Supreme Court, holding that the state statute criminalizing the publication of a juvenile offender’s name without court approval violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments because it impermissibly punishes the truthful, lawfully obtained dissemination of information of public significance. The Court reasoned that the State’s interest in anonymity is not of the highest order required to justify such a restriction and that the statute fails to achieve its purpose.