                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

SLANDER AND LIBEL (§ 18.2-417)

Any person who shall falsely utter and speak, or falsely write and publish, of
and concerning any person of chaste character, any words derogatory of such
person&#8217;s character for virtue and chastity, or imputing to such person
acts not virtuous and chaste, or who shall falsely utter and speak, or falsely
write and publish, of and concerning another person, any words which from their
usual construction and common acceptation are construed as insults and tend to
violence and breach of the peace or who shall use grossly insulting language to
any person of good character or reputation is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
		The defendant shall be entitled to prove upon trial in mitigation of the
punishment, the provocation which induced the libelous or slanderous words, or
any other fact or circumstance tending to disprove malice, or lessen the
criminality of the offense.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 18.1-256; 1960, c. 358; 1973, c. 526; 1975, cc. 14, 15;
2020, c. 900.