United Kingdom strict liability rulepublic interest discussionfreedom of expression

Attorney General v English

[1983] 1 AC 116

JurisdictionUnited Kingdom

CourtHouse of Lords

Year1983

StatusBinding authority

Key Principle

Under section 5 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 a publication made in good faith as part of a discussion of a matter of general public interest is not contempt if the risk of prejudice to particular proceedings is merely incidental to that discussion, and the Attorney General bears the burden of disproving that defence.

Area of Law

General

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