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The author of six books and a number of articles for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Nation and other publications, Garbus was honored in 2014 with the James Joyce Award from the University of Dublin for Excellence in Law and the Trinity College Award for defending First Amendment cases. His fight for freedom of speech is documented in the 2009 award winning HBO film, Shouting Fire: Stories from the Edge of Free Speech, directed by Garbus’ daughter, Liz Garbus.

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A vehement defender of free speech, no matter how inflammatory or controversial, Garbus has become much more cautious in recent years due to the advent of the Internet.

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“The whole idea of the American government was built based on the idea that good ideas will defeat bad ideas,” he states. “I no longer believe that to be true, because of how the unregulated Internet can and has spread disinformation and lies… it’s clear to me that bad ideas will overcome good ideas, and that means that one has to reconsider one’s First Amendment commitment.”

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Garbus explains that he would not take on some of the more provocative cases he has defended in the past for these reasons, especially with the possibility of free speech online inciting violence and putting a burden on police.

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Garbus is against criminal libel laws, where someone could go to jail for making a false statement. He believes holding people accountable for what they say is a civil legal matter, rather than a criminal one.

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“The idea of punishing people for speech is too great a risk. It spreads too far… I think it is terrible that you can destr

Martin Garbus: Rebel lawyer with a cause

Legendary human rights attorney discusses his life and some of his most pivotal cases.

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