Quite the letter from Frank Sinatra to Antonin Scalia one month after joining the United States Supreme Court

Frank Sinatra

Antonin Scalia, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

Frank Sinatra writes to Justice Antonin Scalia just one month after Scalia began his term as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The letter opens with warm admiration, as Sinatra writes:
“My dear Mr. Justice: I, like many other Americans of Italian heritage, was proud when President Reagan appointed you to the Supreme Court of the United States.”

From there, the letter takes a striking turn. Sinatra uses the opportunity to reflect on what he sees as deep unfairness in American libel law—particularly how difficult it is for public figures to defend themselves against false accusations. He cites examples involving Mafia rumors, the Joe Alioto case, and the litigation surrounding Ariel Sharon.

He argues that while public officials are held strictly accountable for every word they speak, those who publish sensational or false claims often avoid consequences by invoking First Amendment protections. One line—remarkable in hindsight—captures how dramatically the media landscape has shifted in the last forty years:

“The President of the United States, you and your brethren on the Supreme Court, every Member of Congress, every Cabinet officer, every Government official, elected or appointed, is held strictly accountable for any utterance they make… but, in the name of the First Amendment, the media are not held accountable.”

An interesting letter from many angles. Hit the Full Record button below to see the letter and more.