Delay of High-Stakes Defamation Trial Between Dominion Voting Systems and Fox News Announced by Delaware Superior Court

In a surprise announcement late Sunday evening, the Delaware Superior Court said that the start of the trial between Dominion Voting Systems and Fox News, which was expected to begin on Monday, would now be delayed until Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Judge Eric M. Davis is expected to make an official announcement about the change at 9:00 a.m. Monday morning in Courtroom 7E.

The trial, which is a high-stakes defamation case, has been the subject of much speculation in recent weeks. The Wall Street Journal reported that the two parties had been in settlement talks, but the delay of the trial throws that into question.

The delay comes after a week of contentious pretrial hearings, in which Judge Davis sanctioned Fox News for withholding evidence and admonished it for not being straightforward about Rupert Murdoch’s role at Fox News.

The trial is expected to last three weeks, during which time the jury will hear from witnesses and review evidence. The case could have far-reaching implications for the media industry, as it could set a precedent for how news outlets report on election fraud allegations.

Dominion Voting Systems is seeking $1.6 billion in damages from Fox News, alleging that the network defamed the company by spreading false claims about its role in the 2020 presidential election. Fox News has denied the allegations and is expected to argue that its coverage was protected by the First Amendment.