Reno+v+ACLU

 A Case Involving: __First Amendment Rights__
 * __Reno vs. ACLU __** June 26, 1997


 * //Background: //** Case brought before the Supreme Court to decide whether the 1966 Communications and Decency Act is constitutional. The act allows the government to prevent and suppress communications that are “indecent” such as pornography and other “offensive material”


 * //Main Issue Presented to the Court //**: Does the 1966 Communications and Decency Act give the government powers to interfere, suppress or monitor free speech? Is the wording of the act broad enough to allow government suppression of free speech in the future? Is this against the First Amendment rights?

__Cases before the Court: __ *American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Presented the case that this law violates the First Amendment since it gives government the power to potentially suppress any free speech by saying its “indecent”.

*Attorney General Janet Reno: Presented the case that this law is reasonable and appropriate to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate material on the internet and allows government the ability to prevent offensive material from being spread around.

 Reasoning: This law failed to clearly define what was considered “indecent communications” that the government could suppress. Since the First Amendment does protect indecent remarks, this law was struck down.
 * Majority Decision ** (All 9 Supreme Court Justices): In favor of ACLU


 * No Dissenting Opinions **: All 9 Justices agree in favor of ACLU

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