On Friday, July 11, 2026, Judge Kenneth Karas of the Southern District of New York dismissed a lawsuit filed by Elena Sassower and the Center for Judicial Accountability, Inc. (CJA) against 34 media outlets and journalism-related entities. The plaintiffs alleged that these defendants conspired to commit "journalistic fraud," demonstrated "institutional reckless disregard for truth," and defrauded purchasers, contributors, and taxpayers in violation of the First Amendment.

The lawsuit, originally filed on October 8, 2025, claimed that the media's failure to report on CJA's work suppressed public awareness, preventing corruption-eradicating changes. Sassower also asserted that the misconduct of New York's judiciary and the press's complicity destroyed the professional lives of her parents and subsequently derailed her own life and career.

Judge Karas ruled that the alleged injuries were too remote and speculative to constitute a concrete injury in fact required for standing. He noted that the First Amendment does not grant a right to compel journalists or publishers to report on specific views or topics. Additionally, harm to the general public cannot establish standing; the injury must be particularized to the plaintiffs.

The court further held that any injury suffered by Sassower's parents does not confer standing to her, as constitutional violations are personal to the direct victim, and collateral injuries to family members do not provide a cause of action. Without sufficient factual detail on how the defendants' conduct harmed her directly, Sassower failed to demonstrate a particularized injury.

As a result, the lawsuit accusing the media of keeping the public "clueless" was dismissed.

Sources