Fox must go to trial to defend its protection of the 2020 US presidential election, a choose dominated on Friday, denying the cable community’s try to forestall a $1.6bn defamation case introduced by voting machine maker Dominion from being determined by a jury.

In a 130-page opinion, Decide Eric Davis of Delaware state courtroom denied motions by Fox Information and its father or mother Fox Corporation, however agreed with Dominion’s rivalry that the claims made about its units — that they have been rigged to steal votes from then-president Donald Trump — have been false.

“The proof developed on this civil continuing demonstrates that’s CRYSTAL clear that not one of the statements regarding Dominion in regards to the 2020 election are true,” Davis wrote.

He added a jury within the trial set to start on April 17 would resolve on whether or not Fox acted with “precise malice” or “reckless disregard”, in repeatedly broadcasting the false accusations in opposition to Dominion, and whether or not the corporate suffered damages in consequence.

Earlier this week, Dominion launched a proposed witness list that if accepted by the courtroom would entail Fox chair Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan being questioned stay through the trial, in addition to Fox primetime stars Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham.

In a sworn deposition in January, Rupert Murdoch instructed attorneys he believed some Fox anchors went additional than merely broadcasting the false election claims and as a substitute “endorsed” conspiracy theories being pushed by the Trump marketing campaign.

He added Fox “did greater than merely host” company comparable to Trump’s lawyer Sidney Powell, a proponent of false claims that Dominion machines have been rigged, however slightly gave them a “platform”. Murdoch additionally testified he had “seen no proof that [Dominion] rigged something” and that he believed the election “was not stolen”.

Legal professionals for Fox had argued the community was reporting on the allegations made by a sitting president, and that such statements have been protected by the structure’s first modification. Nonetheless, Davis cited the New York state courtroom of appeals in concluding that “accusations of legal exercise, even within the type of opinion, should not constitutionally protected”.

Reacting to the choose’s resolution, Dominion mentioned: “We’re gratified by the courtroom’s thorough ruling soundly rejecting all of Fox’s arguments and defences, and discovering as a matter of regulation that their statements about Dominion are false. We sit up for going to trial.”

In an announcement, Fox mentioned: “This case is and at all times has been in regards to the first modification protections of the media’s absolute proper to cowl the information.” 

It added that Fox would “proceed to fiercely advocate for the rights of free speech and a free press as we transfer into the following section of those proceedings”.