Supreme Court declines to revisit landmark libel ruling protecting media from defamation claims

Former coal executive Don Blankenship's appeal asking the Supreme Court to overturn the landmark libel ruling was rejected.
The 1964 New York Times v. Sullivan ruling requires public figures prove "actual malice" in defamation suits against media.
Justice Clarence Thomas said the court should reconsider the precedent but agreed with not hearing Blankenship's case.
Blankenship sued media outlets for calling him a convicted felon when he was convicted of a misdemeanor.
The appeals court upheld dismissing Blankenship's lawsuit since he didn't show "actual malice."