United States v. American Library Assn., Inc.

539 U.S. 194, 123 S.Ct. 2297, 156 L.Ed.2d 221 (2003)

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United States v. American Library Assn., Inc.

United States Supreme Court
539 U.S. 194, 123 S.Ct. 2297, 156 L.Ed.2d 221 (2003)

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Facts

Congress enacted the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) to address the problems associated with the availability of Internet pornography in public libraries. Under CIPA, a public library cannot receive federal assistance to provide Internet access unless it installed software to block images that constituted obscenity or child pornography, and to prevent minors from obtaining access to material that was harmful to them. The American Library Association, Inc. (plaintiff) brought suit in district court against the United States government (defendant) on the grounds that CIPA violated their First Amendment rights. The district court held that CIPA was unconstitutional, and the government appealed to the United States Supreme Court.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Rehnquist, C.J.)

Concurrence (Kennedy, J.)

Concurrence (Breyer, J.)

Dissent (Stevens, J.)

Dissent (Souter, J.)

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