No law shall be passed impairing the freedom of speech; every person shall be free to speak, write or publish whatever he will on any subject, being responsible for all abuse of that liberty; and in all suits and prosecutions for libel the truth thereof may be given in evidence, and the jury, under the direction of the court, shall determine the law and the fact.

Source: Entire article added, effective August 1, 1876, see L. 1877, p. 30.

Cross references: For statutory provision concerning truth as a defense or mitigating factor in a defamation action, see § 13-25-125; for the privilege of nondisclosure of news information by newspersons, see § 13-90-119; for provisions relating to governmental access to news information, see article 72. 5 of title 24; for freedom of press for students in public schools, see § 22-1-120.