Governor vetoes J.D. Salinger posthumous-privacy bill on 1st amendment grounds

The son of profoundly private “Catcher in the Rye” author J.D. Salinger  had hoped the New Hampshire bill would allow him to protect his father’s identity from commercial exploitation until 70 years following his death, according to today’s Washington Post story.  The new Hampshire governor explained his veto saying that the bill was “overly broad” and “could have a chilling effect on legitimate journalistic and expressive works protected by the state and federal constitutions.”

“The protections for free speech that are guaranteed to all citizens under the state and federal constitutions are central to democracy and a free society. Legislation that could have the impact of restricting free speech must be carefully considered and narrowly tailored,” he said. “I believe that the omission of legitimate, clear exceptions for news and expressive works will inhibit constitutionally protected speech and result in needless litigation to judicially establish what should have been made explicit in this bill.”

Read the whole story in the Washington Post   NH governor vetoes Salinger inspired bill on protecting use of identity after death