The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, from the first press laws to today

Court case

Sherrill v. Knight

United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, decided 15 December 1977

Engraving of a bundle of papers tied with ribbon on courthouse steps

Published 2026-09-22. Last reviewed 2026-09-22. 2 sources.

Caption
Sherrill v. Knight
Court
United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
Court level
appeals court
Citation
569 F.2d 124 (D.C. Cir. 1977)
Decided
1977-12-15
Status
decided

What the court held

The D.C. Circuit held that the protection the First Amendment gives to newsgathering requires that White House press access not be denied arbitrarily or for less than compelling reasons, and that due process requires "notice of the factual bases for denial, an opportunity for the applicant to respond to these, and a final written statement of the reasons for denial."1234

Status as of 2026-09-22: Final.1234

Incidents

Documents and reporting

  1. Sherrill v. Knight (D.C. Cir.)The Free Speech Center, MTSU, reporting. Source record
  2. Sherrill v. Knight, 569 F.2d 124 (D.C. Cir. 1977) archived copyJustia, 1977-01-01, opinion. Source record

Claims and evidence

Each numbered claim quotes the source it rests on.

  1. The D.C. Circuit decided Sherrill v. Knight on December 15, 1977.Decided Dec. 15, 1977Sherrill v. Knight, 569 F.2d 124 (D.C. Cir. 1977) archived copy, Justia, 1977-01-01.Claim 13, checked 2026-09-22.
  2. The court held that denying a previously issued White House press pass requires notice of the factual basis, an opportunity to respond, and a final written statement of reasons.notice of the factual bases for denial, an opportunity for the applicant to respond to these, and a final written statement of the reasons for denialSherrill v. Knight, 569 F.2d 124 (D.C. Cir. 1977) archived copy, Justia, 1977-01-01.Claim 14, checked 2026-09-22.
  3. The court held that denial of a White House press pass implicates First Amendment interests and cannot occur without adequate procedural due process.denial of a pass potentially infringes upon first amendment guarantees. Such impairment of this interest cannot be permitted to occur in the absence of adequate procedural due process.Sherrill v. Knight, 569 F.2d 124 (D.C. Cir. 1977) archived copy, Justia, 1977-01-01.Claim 15, checked 2026-09-22.
  4. The case is reported as Sherrill v. Knight, 569 F.2d 124 (D.C. Cir. 1977).Robert Sherrill v. H. Stuart Knight, Director, United States Secret Service, Etal., Appellants, 569 F.2d 124 (D.C. Cir. 1977)Sherrill v. Knight, 569 F.2d 124 (D.C. Cir. 1977) archived copy, Justia, 1977-01-01.Claim 16, checked 2026-09-22.