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United States v. One Book Called “Ulysses”

United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

5 F. Supp. 182 (1933)

Facts

In 1930, Congress passed a tariff act that prohibited the importation of books and other materials deemed to be obscene or immoral. Author James Joyce wrote Ulysses, a book about the everyday experiences of the lower-middle class in Dublin, Ireland. The book included crass language and frequently referred to sex. When the book was imported into the United States, the government (plaintiff) brought an action for forfeiture under the statute.

Rule of Law

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (Woolsey, J.)

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