Which of the following is a defense against libel suits?

Summary judgment is a legal term used in civil litigation that allows a court to decide a case without going to trial, based on the argument that there are no material facts in dispute that need to be resolved by a jury. In the context of libel suits, if a defendant can convince the court that the evidence overwhelmingly supports their claim that there is no legal basis for the plaintiff's case, a summary judgment can be granted in favor of the defendant. This serves as a defense by potentially dismissing the case before it moves forward to a public trial, thus protecting the defendant from the repercussions associated with a libel claim.

In libel cases, particularly, the defendant can assert that the statement made was not actionable based on evidence that disproves the essential elements of libel, such as falsity, actual malice, or damages. Therefore, when a defendant can show that the statements made were true, or that they belong to a public discourse, or that the plaintiff failed to meet the burden of proof, summary judgment can effectively shield the defendant from liability.

The other options present concepts that do not directly serve as defenses against libel suits, such as prior restraint, which is a government action that prohibits speech or other expression before it can take place