No. 17-1702October Term 2018Decided Jun 17, 2019
Manhattan Community Access Corp. v. Halleck
This case is about whether Manhattan Neighborhood Network, a private nonprofit chosen by New York City to run public-access cable channels, can be treated like the government for First Amendment purposes after it suspended producers who aired a film criticizing it.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jun 17, 2019
- What it's about
This case is about whether Manhattan Neighborhood Network, a private nonprofit chosen by New York City to run public-access cable channels, can be treated like the government for First Amendment purposes after it suspended producers who aired a film criticizing it. The dispute turns on whether operating public-access channels makes a private entity a state actor subject to constitutional free-speech limits.
Question presented
1. Whether the Second Circuit erred in rejecting this Court's state actor tests and instead creating a per se rule that private operators of public access channels are state actors subject to constitutional liability. 2. Whether the Second Circuit erred in holding- contrary to the Sixth and D.C. Circuits- that private entities operating public access television stations are state actors for constitutional purposes where the state has no control over the private entity's board or operations.
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit / Decision released Jun 17, 2019
- Area
First Amendment
Timing
Decided June 17, 2019
The Court released its decision on June 17, 2019 without hearing oral argument.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 3, 2026
- Method
- Methodology