Introduction of Bruce Sanford: Richard A. Boehne and María Luisa Ferré Rangel
Rich Boehne: Good evening. I’m Rich Boehne.
María Luisa Ferré Rangel: And I’m María Luisa Ferré Rangel.
We are delighted to be here to introduce our friend Bruce Sanford. Many of you have experienced the ripple effects of Bruce’s First Amendment work. By ensuring that one can publish, he helps ensure all can publish.
RB: María Luisa and I are especially fortunate because as his clients, we are in the esteemed company of best-selling authors, former presidents and first ladies, media trade groups, and myriad news outlets whose First Amendment rights, libel protection and financial trusts have been under the watchful protection of Bruce’s legal expertise.
In fact, Bruce has been a leader in shaping libel and First Amendment law in courts throughout the nation for decades.
At Scripps, Bruce served as our legal counsel for years, advising the company and the Scripps family on issues that strengthen our business and enable our newsgathering – and we all know one cannot exist without the other.
MLFR: In Puerto Rico, Bruce was our champion against the government of Pedro Rosello who would try to intimidate and bully our newspaper, El Nuevo Dia, into backing off investigations of corruption.
We stood firm when government pulled millions of dollars in contracted advertising because it didn’t like our coverage. And, thanks to Bruce, we pushed back in court against this challenge to our First Amendment right. The U.S. court of appeals decided that the governor and his staff were not subject to immunity from liabilities on the contrary it ruled that they were subject to respond for asserted violations of the First amendment by ways of impermissible retaliations.
Whenever the First Amendment is challenged, we must all stand firm to protect it.
We are all fortunate to have Bruce Sanford’s tireless legal skills on our side.
RB: Our Scripps company motto is: “Give light and the people will find their own way.”
Tonight I’d like to take a small liberty with that and say, “Give us Bruce Sanford, and the First Amendment will prevail.”
MLFR: Ladies and gentlemen, Bruce Sanford.
Photo: Jonathon Ziegler/Patrick McMullan.com