Dorothy Sucher
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Sucher was an American author and psychotherapist who worked as a reporter at the Greenbelt News Review
, where an article that she wrote that quoted critics of a developers calling his plans "blackmail" initially resulted in a $17,500 judgement against the paper. The U.S. Supreme Court
would later overturn the lower court verdict, ruling in Greenbelt Cooperative Publishing Assn. v. Bresler that the use of "rhetorical hyperbole" in such cases is covered by the First Amendment
, a major victory that supported Freedom of the press in the United States
.
She was born Dorothy Glassman on May 18, 1933, in Brooklyn, where she majored in English at Brooklyn College
, graduating magna cum laude in 1954. She would later earn a master's degree in 1975 from Johns Hopkins University
in mental health
.
of Greenbelt, Maryland
from 1959 to 1970, filling in as a columnist and associate editor. In that capacity she covered a 1965 city council hearing where developer Charles S. Bresler offered to sell a property the city wanted to acquire as long as he received the variances he was seeking on a development project, a deal that was described by members of the public attending the meeting as "blackmail", and Sucher reported these comments in her article on the meeting. Bresler filed suit in circuit court and a jury found in his favor, awarding him $17,500, a decision affirmed by the Maryland Court of Appeals
. In 1970, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8–0 to overturn the lower court ruling, finding that "even the most careless reader must have perceived that the word was no more than rhetorical hyperbole", that "It is simply impossible to believe that a reader who reached the word 'blackmail' in either article would not have understood exactly what was meant" and that no reader would have interpreted the word in question to mean that Bresler had committed the criminal offense. To have ruled otherwise "would subvert the most fundamental meaning of a free press".
, Vermont Life and The Washington Post Magazine
. Many years later she began to write a book about the News Review libel case, but was unable to find a publisher.
Sucher was active with the Sisters in Crime
, an organization that aims to foster the development and recognition of female mystery writers. She served in 1978 as state coordinator for the National Organization for Women
, as part of her longstanding advocacy in support of women's rights. She returned to the Greenbelt News Review in 1993, working there until 2004, including time spent as the paper's editor in chief.
Sucher was instrumental in formation of the Greenbelt Museum and served on its board of directors.
A resident of Silver Spring, Maryland
, Sucher died at age 77 on August 22, 2010, at her home there due to thyroid cancer
. She was survived by her husband Joseph, as well as by two sons and a granddaughter.
Greenbelt News Review
The Greenbelt News Review was established in 1937 as a volunteer cooperative shortly after settlement of Greenbelt, Maryland, and was originally called The Cooperator...
, where an article that she wrote that quoted critics of a developers calling his plans "blackmail" initially resulted in a $17,500 judgement against the paper. The U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
would later overturn the lower court verdict, ruling in Greenbelt Cooperative Publishing Assn. v. Bresler that the use of "rhetorical hyperbole" in such cases is covered by the First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
, a major victory that supported Freedom of the press in the United States
Freedom of the press in the United States
Freedom of the press in the United States is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. This clause is generally understood as prohibiting the government from interfering with the printing and distribution of information or opinions, although freedom of the press, like...
.
She was born Dorothy Glassman on May 18, 1933, in Brooklyn, where she majored in English at Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
, graduating magna cum laude in 1954. She would later earn a master's degree in 1975 from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
.
Supreme Court case
Sucher worked as a reporter earning $5 a week for the Greenbelt News ReviewGreenbelt News Review
The Greenbelt News Review was established in 1937 as a volunteer cooperative shortly after settlement of Greenbelt, Maryland, and was originally called The Cooperator...
of Greenbelt, Maryland
Greenbelt, Maryland
Greenbelt is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Contained within today's City of Greenbelt is the historic planned community now known locally as "Old Greenbelt" and designated as the Greenbelt Historic District...
from 1959 to 1970, filling in as a columnist and associate editor. In that capacity she covered a 1965 city council hearing where developer Charles S. Bresler offered to sell a property the city wanted to acquire as long as he received the variances he was seeking on a development project, a deal that was described by members of the public attending the meeting as "blackmail", and Sucher reported these comments in her article on the meeting. Bresler filed suit in circuit court and a jury found in his favor, awarding him $17,500, a decision affirmed by the Maryland Court of Appeals
Maryland Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals of Maryland is the supreme court of the U.S. state of Maryland. The court, which is composed of one chief judge and six associate judges, meets in the Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building in the state capital, Annapolis...
. In 1970, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8–0 to overturn the lower court ruling, finding that "even the most careless reader must have perceived that the word was no more than rhetorical hyperbole", that "It is simply impossible to believe that a reader who reached the word 'blackmail' in either article would not have understood exactly what was meant" and that no reader would have interpreted the word in question to mean that Bresler had committed the criminal offense. To have ruled otherwise "would subvert the most fundamental meaning of a free press".
Career
She would work as a psychotherapist with the Group Health Association from 1975 to 1980 and then went into private practice. As an author she wrote the mystery books Dead Men Don't Give Seminars in 1988 and Dead Men Don't Marry in 1989, followed by 1999's The Invisible Garden which was a collection of her essays. Her short stories were published in Mystery Readers JournalMystery Readers International
Mystery Readers International is a fan/reader organization open to all readers, fans, critics, editors, publishers, and writers of Mystery fiction. It was founded by Janet A...
, Vermont Life and The Washington Post Magazine
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
. Many years later she began to write a book about the News Review libel case, but was unable to find a publisher.
Sucher was active with the Sisters in Crime
Sisters in Crime
Sisters in Crime is an organization that has 3,600 members in 48 chapters world-wide, offering networking, advice and support to mystery authors. Members are authors, readers, publishers, agents, booksellers and librarians bound by their affection for the mystery genre and their support of women...
, an organization that aims to foster the development and recognition of female mystery writers. She served in 1978 as state coordinator for the National Organization for Women
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women is the largest feminist organization in the United States. It was founded in 1966 and has a membership of 500,000 contributing members. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S...
, as part of her longstanding advocacy in support of women's rights. She returned to the Greenbelt News Review in 1993, working there until 2004, including time spent as the paper's editor in chief.
Sucher was instrumental in formation of the Greenbelt Museum and served on its board of directors.
A resident of Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 71,452 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.The urbanized, oldest, and...
, Sucher died at age 77 on August 22, 2010, at her home there due to thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer
Thyroid neoplasm is a neoplasm or tumor of the thyroid. It can be a benign tumor such as thyroid adenoma, or it can be a malignant neoplasm , such as papillary, follicular, medullary or anaplastic thyroid cancer. Most patients are 25 to 65 years of age when first diagnosed; women are more affected...
. She was survived by her husband Joseph, as well as by two sons and a granddaughter.