Near v. State of Minnesota ex rel. Olson

A Minnesota statute allowed a "malicious, scandalous and defamatory" newspaper to be abated as a public nuisance, with injunctions barring further publication. Near (defendant) published "The Saturday Press," which printed racial slurs and attacks on Minnesota public officials, including Olson (plaintiff). Olson sued under the statute, and the state trial court ordered Near's paper shut down; the state supreme court affirmed. Near appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.