Morrissey has been granted a trial in his libel suit against the NME, who he claims defamed his character by running an interview in 2007 that portrayed him as racist and xenophobic.

"Overall, in my judgment a proper balance between the Article 10 right of freedom of expression of [NME magazine] and Mr. Morrissey's right to the protection of his individual reputation requires, in the circumstances of this case, that the action be permitted to proceed," wrote Britain's most senior libel judge, Mr. Justice Tugendhat, in an official statement.

Photos: Random Notes
The high court trial for the case is expected to begin sometime in 2012. This will be the first libel trial before jury in the United Kingdom in over two years, in part because such cases tend to be complex, expensive and long.

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