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(Re)Defining Public Officials And Public Figures: A Washington State Primer, Kate M. Adams

Seattle University Law Review

This Comment reflects an attempt to distill the Supreme Court's thematic intent from over thirty years of defamation case law. The Comment then evaluates current definitions of public officials and public figures to determine whether they are consistent with the theme. Washington courts have already addressed these definitions, but this Comment posits that Washington law on public officials and public figures is inconsistent with the Supreme Court's intent and suggests alternative defining tests for public officials and public figures.