A. A privileged publication or communication is one made: First. In any legislative or judicial proceeding or any other proceeding authorized by law; Second. In the proper discharge of an official duty; Third. By a fair and true report of any legislative or judicial or other proceeding authorized by law, or anything said in the course thereof, and any and all expressions of opinion in regard thereto, and criticisms thereon, and any and all criticisms upon the official acts of any and all public officers, except where the matter stated of and concerning the official act done, or of the officer, falsely imputes crime to the officer so criticized.
§ 1443.1.Privileged Communication Defined - Exemption From Libel
Chapter 25: Slander and Libel · Last amended April 7, 1981 · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceDefines a privileged communication exempt from libel as one made in a legislative, judicial, or other authorized proceeding, in the discharge of an official duty, or in a fair and true report of such a proceeding or a public official's acts -- unless the report falsely charges a crime.
Full Text of § 1443.1
B. No publication which under this section would be privileged shall be punishable as libel.
Amendment History
Laws 1981, HB 1252, c. 21, § 1, emerg. eff. 4/7/1981.
Plain-English Summary
Section 1443.1 spells out what counts as a privileged communication -- one the law protects from libel liability even though it might otherwise look defamatory. The privilege covers statements made in a legislative or judicial proceeding, or any other proceeding the law authorizes; statements made while properly carrying out an official duty; and a fair and true report of such a proceeding, along with opinions and criticism about it.
The same protection extends to criticism of a public official's official acts. That protection has one limit: it doesn't cover a report or criticism that falsely accuses the officer of a crime. Subsection B then makes the practical point -- a publication that qualifies as privileged under this section can't be punished as libel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a statement "privileged" and safe from a libel claim in Oklahoma?
Under Section 1443.1, a statement is privileged if it's made in a legislative or judicial proceeding, in the discharge of an official duty, or in a fair and true report of such a proceeding, including opinion and criticism about it.
Can a news outlet be sued for reporting on a court case?
Not for a fair and true report of the proceeding, or for opinions and criticism about it -- the statute treats that kind of reporting as privileged.
Can you criticize a public official without risking a libel suit?
Yes, criticism of a public official's official acts is privileged, but the protection doesn't extend to a report that falsely accuses the official of committing a crime.
If a communication is privileged under this section, can it still be libel?
No. Subsection B states directly that a publication privileged under this section can't be punished as libel.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Last verified August 3, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: oklahoma privileged communication libelfair and true report privilege oklahoma12 O.S. § 1443.1criticism of public official libel defense oklahoma