David Bodney

David J. Bodney, a litigator focusing on media and constitutional law, is Senior Counsel at Ballard Spahr LLP. where he founded firm’s Media and Entertainment Law Group. For over 40 years, David has defended print, broadcast, and electronic media in defamation, privacy, and related First Amendment litigation. In addition, he has significant experience litigating complex commercial disputes; handling matters involving intellectual property, American Indian law, and governmental affairs issues; and briefing several high profile cases in the U.S. Supreme Court.

David has lectured on media law and litigation, including presentations onextreme speech, libel, and mass media law.

For over four decades, David has worked to secure open government legislation on behalf of the publishing industry. In 1999, together with The Arizona Republic, he earned the Arizona Newspapers Association’s Freedom of Information Award for his work in federal court on behalf of Phoenix Newspapers, Inc.