Judge refuses to grant Sarah Palin a new trial in her libel suit against New York Times
Source: Politico/AP
12/15/2025 10:16 PM EST
NEW YORK — Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s bid for a new libel trial against The New York Times was rejected Monday by a New York federal judge who also refused Palin’s request that the judge recuse himself.
Judge Jed S. Rakoff said in a written opinion that he was “scrupulous” in affording Palin a fair trial last April, when a jury concluded that the Times did not libel the former Alaska governor in a 2017 editorial.
It was the second jury to reach that conclusion after the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ordered a new trial after Rakoff in February 2022 said while the jury in the first trial was deliberating that he planned to dismiss the lawsuit because Palin had failed to show that the newspaper had acted out of malice.
Regarding the request to recuse himself, the judge said the trial transcript shows he frequently ruled in Palin’s favor during the trials. Danielle Rhoades Ha, a spokesperson for the newspaper, said in an email that the Times was pleased with the decision. “The jury reached the right verdict in rejecting Palin’s libel claim, and today’s decision reaffirms the jury’s decision,” she said. Lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/15/judge-refuses-to-grant-sarah-palin-a-new-trial-in-her-libel-lawsuit-against-the-new-york-times-00692352
= new reply since forum marked as read
This time, she is trying to get a 3rd chance and the judge said "Um no.".
Doing a quick search - this goes back to 2017 with a suit against the NYT regarding one of their Editorials about mass shootings, where she was apparently referenced -
2017
Original suit - Palin suing New York Times over editorial on mass shooting
Suit dismissed - Judge dismisses Palin defamation case against New York Times
2019
Appeals Court revives original suit - Appeals court revives Sarah Palin's defamation lawsuit against New York Times
2020
Trial ordered - Judge orders jury trial in Sarah Palin libel suit against New York Times
2022
Suit dismissed (again while deliberations were underway in the trial) - Judge throws out Palin libel case against New York Times
Jury aquits NYT (while the case was being dismissed) - Jury finds that Sarah Palin failed to prove her defamation case against the New York Times
2024
2nd trial granted - Sarah Palin granted new trial in defamation lawsuit against New York Times
New trial date set - Judge sets new trial date in Sarah Palin's libel lawsuit against The New York Times
2025
Retrial begins - A retrial of Sarah Palin's case against 'New York Times' begins Monday
Palin loses again (NYT acquitted) - Sarah Palin loses defamation retrial against New York Times
So now she has asked for yet another trial and that was denied!
eventually losing to Mary Peltola (D) in the special election to complete the term of Don Young's at-large seat after he died, and then she lost again to Peltola in the general election - I think it was the first time they used "Ranked Choice" in AK. Young's staff actually supported Peltola over Palin at the time! 
She announced that she was "available" for any position in 45's current administration - Palin keeping door open to joining Trump administration
She had not been invited to the 2024 RNC convention as it is, so looks like chances for a role, are slim! 
IF anything, I expect based on the cruelness of 45, he would reject her just based on her special-needs son Trig (who is 17 now 
).