A Virginia judge dismissed the obscenity case against the books A Court of Mist and Fury and Gender Queer, finding that the law was unconstitutional as prior restraint, that it had insufficient knowledge requirement, and there was insufficient notice.
West Virginia H.B. 2119 would impose a $1 tax on the sale or rental of any material deemed obscene by the tax commissioner.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the government could only impose “obscenity” and “harmful to minors” standards on cable television, instead of the “indecency” standard.
The California 4th District Court of Appeals ruled that the state’s privacy laws do not protect against prosecution for the distribution of obscene material.
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law that allowed the government to seize and destroy Ferris J. Alexander’s adult businesses under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act when he was convicted of selling seven obscene magazines and videos.
The U.S. Supreme Court clarified the “value” prong of the Miller test by ruling that the literary, artistic, political or scientific value of an allegedly obscene work must be weighed by a standard broader than that of any particular community. The new standard is that of a “reasonable person.”
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Washington’s use of the word “lust” in its definition of “prurient interest” goes beyond the three-pronged test in Miller/Ginsberg and is unconstitutional.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a detective entering an adult store, purchasing magazines, and then arresting the clerk for selling obscene material did not constitute an unlawful search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment.
The Tennessee Supreme Court rules that the state’s obscenity and display law is unconstitutional.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a local jury was wrong in declaring the movie “Carnal Knowledge” obscene.
