The early setbacks, coming one right after another, would also contribute to the growing confidence of their opponent. Judge Whittemore’s repeated rulings had given Gawker the sense that the law was overwhelmingly on its side. Gawker’s confidence, as it had been since its beginnings as a company, tended to bleed over into contempt. Its early belief that Judge Campbell had no power over them, that they could disregard her rulings, would undoubtedly make Gawker less sympathetic to her in the years of motions to come. Finally, it was no small thing that the media coverage had been favorable to
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