The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday left undisturbed a District of Columbia appeals court ruling that said the conservative media publication National Review could face a defamation claim over a column that raised questions about climate scientist Michael Mann of Penn State University.

Justice Samuel Alito Jr. wrote a lone dissent, saying the petition, filed by Michael Carvin of Jones Day, “presents questions that go to the very heart of the constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech and freedom of the press: the protection afforded to journalists and others who use harsh language in criticizing opposing advocacy on one of the most important public issues of the day.”