May 5, 1942: The Times wins a Pulitzer Prize for public service. The prize was awarded after The Times fought contempt of court charges for publishing editorials on pending cases.

The dispute began in 1938 when a group from the Los Angeles bar association went before a Superior Court judge asking that The Times be held in contempt for publishing the editorials in 1937-1938. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld The Times’ right to publish the editorials “and reaffirmed the doctrine of freedom of the press,” The Times said.

The editorials were:

Dec. 21, 1937, on the conviction of 22 in a sit-down strike at the Douglas plant.

Feb, 13, 1938,supporting a guilty verdict in the manslaughter trial of Paul Wright.

April 14, 1938,on the conviction of Helen Werner for soliciting a bribe.

April 16, 1938,on the legal fight between Jackie Coogan and his mother over his earnings as a child actor.

May 5, 1938,opposing probation for two Teamsters members convicted of assaulting nonunion truck drivers.