WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is declining to revive a defamation lawsuit against Bill Cosby that was filed by a woman who says he raped her and later spread lies about her when she came forward.
The high court on Tuesday rejected an appeal from actress Kathrine McKee, who said Cosby raped her in 1974. McKee sued Cosby for damaging her reputation after a lawyer for the comedian allegedly leaked a letter attacking McKee. Two lower courts ruled against her and dismissed the case.
Justice Clarence Thomas agreed with the Supreme Court’s action, but called for the court to reconsider the very high standard a public figure needs to meet to win a defamation case. That standard was laid out in the landmark New York Times v. Sullivan case in 1964.
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Inside the Bill Cosby retrial
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NORRISTOWN, PA – APRIL 11: Actor/ stand-up comedian Bill Cosby leaving the Montgomery County Courthouse for the third day of his retrial for sexual assault charges on April 11, 2018 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. A former Temple University employee alleges that the entertainer drugged and molested her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. More than 40 women have accused the 80 year old entertainer of sexual assault. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images)
NORRISTOWN, PA – APRIL 12: Bill Cosby accuser model Janice Dickinson, 63, walks through the Montgomery County Courthouse after lunch to testify on the fourth day of the sexual assault retrial on April 12, 2018 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. A former Temple University employee alleges that the entertainer drugged and molested her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. More than 40 women have accused the 80 year old entertainer of sexual assault. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)
NORRISTOWN, PA – APRIL 12: Bill Cosby arrives at the Montgomery County Courthouse for the fourth day of his sexual assault retrial on April 12, 2018 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. A former Temple University employee alleges that the entertainer drugged and molested her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. More than 40 women have accused the 80 year old entertainer of sexual assault. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)
NORRISTOWN, PA – APRIL 11: Actor/ stand-up comedian Bill Cosby arriving to Montgomery County Courthouse for the third day of his retrial for sexual assault charges on April 11, 2018 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. A former Temple University employee alleges that the entertainer drugged and molested her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. More than 40 women have accused the 80 year old entertainer of sexual assault. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images)
NORRISTOWN, PA – APRIL 11: Chelan Lasha weeps as she returns to the courtroom after recess during the third day in the sexual assault case against actor and comedian Bill Cosby at the Montgomery County Courthouse April 11, 2018 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. The comedian is accused by a former Temple University employee of allegedly drugging and molesting her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. (Photo by Dominick Reuter-Pool/Getty Images)
NORRISTOWN, PA – APRIL 12: Bill Cosby accuser model Janice Dickinson, 63, walks through the Montgomery County Courthouse after lunch to testify on the fourth day of the sexual assault retrial on April 12, 2018 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. A former Temple University employee alleges that the entertainer drugged and molested her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. More than 40 women have accused the 80 year old entertainer of sexual assault. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)
Actor and comedian, Bill Cosby, returns to the courtroom after lunch recess during the third day of the retrial of his sexual assault case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 11, 2018. Dominick Reuter/Pool via Reuters
Attorney Gloria Allred arrives for the third day of actor and comedian, Bill Cosby’s sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 11, 2018. Dominick Reuter/Pool via Reuters
Actor and comedian Bill Cosby departs after the first day of his sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 9, 2018. REUTERS/Jessica Kourkounis
Actor and comedian Bill Cosby departs after the first day of his sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 9, 2018. REUTERS/Jessica Kourkounis
Files for the prosecution?s case against actor and comedian Bill Cosby are wheeled into the courtroom for the second day of Cosby’s sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 10, 2018. David Maialetti/Pool via Reuters?
Boxes of documents are wheeled into the courtroom on the third day of the retrial of actor and comedian Bill Cosby’s sexual assault case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 11, 2018. Dominick Reuter/Pool via Reuters
NORRISTOWN, PA – APRIL 11: Civil rights attorney Lisa Bloom is seen around the Montgomery County Courthouse during the third day of Bill Cosby’s sexual assault charges on April 11, 2018 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. A former Temple University employee alleges that the entertainer drugged and molested her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. More than 40 women have accused the 80-year-old entertainer of sexual assault. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images)
NORRISTOWN, PA – APRIL 11: Bill Cosby’s personal attorney Tom L. Larkin and actor/ stand-up comedian Bill Cosby leaving the Montgomery County Courthouse for the third day of his retrial for sexual assault charges on April 11, 2018 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. A former Temple University employee alleges that the entertainer drugged and molested her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. More than 40 women have accused the 80 year old entertainer of sexual assault. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images)
NORRISTOWN, PA – APRIL 11: Actor/ stand-up comedian Bill Cosby leaving the Montgomery County Courthouse for the third day of his retrial for sexual assault charges on April 11, 2018 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. A former Temple University employee alleges that the entertainer drugged and molested her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. More than 40 women have accused the 80 year old entertainer of sexual assault. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images)
NORRISTOWN, PA – APRIL 11: Actor/ stand-up comedian Bill Cosby leaving the Montgomery County Courthouse for the third day of his retrial for sexual assault charges on April 11, 2018 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. A former Temple University employee alleges that the entertainer drugged and molested her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. More than 40 women have accused the 80 year old entertainer of sexual assault. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images)
NORRISTOWN, PA – APRIL 11: Actor/ stand-up comedian Bill Cosby arriving to Montgomery County Courthouse for the third day of his retrial for sexual assault charges on April 11, 2018 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. A former Temple University employee alleges that the entertainer drugged and molested her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. More than 40 women have accused the 80 year old entertainer of sexual assault. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images)
District Attorney Kevin Steele, with Andrea Constand and prosecutors on his side gives emotional remarks after the guilty verdict of Bill Cosby on all three counts in he sexual assault trial of the comedian an actor, during a press conference, at the Montgomery County District Attorneys office in Norristown, PA, USA, on April 26, 2018. (Photo by Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Gloria Allred, victims and supporters react after the guilty verdict of Bill Cosby, outside the court house, in Norristown, PA, on April 26, 2018. (Photo by Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NORRISTOWN, PA – APRIL 26: Bill Cosby accusers Victoria Valentino (R), Caroline Heldman (L) and Lili Bernard (2L) react after the guilty on all counts verdict was delivered in the sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse on April 26, 2018 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Cosby was found guilty on all accounts after a former Temple University employee alleges that the entertainer drugged and molested her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. More than 40 women have accused the 80 year old entertainer of sexual assault. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)
NORRISTOWN, PA – APRIL 26: A woman reacts outside the courtroom upon hearing that Bill Cosby was found guilty on all counts in his sexual assault retrial on April 26, 2018 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Cosby was found guilty on all accounts after a former Temple University employee alleges that the entertainer drugged and molested her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. More than 40 women have accused the 80 year old entertainer of sexual assault. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)
Andrea Constand and prosecutors on here side reacts the guilty verdict of Bill Cosby on all three counts in he sexual assault trial of the comedian an actor, during a press conference, at the Montgomery County District Attorneys office in Norristown, PA, USA, on April 26, 2018. (Photo by Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NORRISTOWN, PA – APRIL 26: Bill Cosby accusers (L-R) Caroline Heldman and Lili Bernard react after the guilty on all counts verdict was delivered in the sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse on April 26, 2018 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Cosby was found guilty on all accounts after a former Temple University employee alleges that the entertainer drugged and molested her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. More than 40 women have accused the 80 year old entertainer of sexual assault. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)
NORRISTOWN, PA – APRIL 26: Bill Cosby accusers (L-R) Caroline Heldman, Lili Bernard and Victoria Valentino (far right) react after the guilty on all counts verdict was delivered in the sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse on April 26, 2018 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Cosby was found guilty on all accounts after a former Temple University employee alleges that the entertainer drugged and molested her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. More than 40 women have accused the 80 year old entertainer of sexual assault. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)
Bill Cosby departs on bail after being found guilty on all three accounts of sexual assault, at Montgomery County Court House, in Norristown, PA, USA, on April 26, 2018. After the first trial last year resulted in a hung jury actor and entertainer Bill Cosby is found guilty on three counts of sexual assault.
(Photo by Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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