Preview

Reno V. Aclu

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1029 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Reno V. Aclu
The parties involved were Janet Reno, attorney general (1993-2001) of the United States, which also makes her the head of the U.S. Department of Justice, she is the first woman in this position#, and the American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU). The ACLU is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to preserve and extend the basic rights of the U.S. constitution.# b. The problem began when President Clinton signed the Telecommunications Reform Bill into law on February 8,1996. A group of people, led by the ACLU went to court and succeeded in temporarily stopping the implementation of the bill's "decency provisions." After this district court decision, Janet Reno appealed directly to the Supreme Court. The most controversial parts of the Communication Decency Act (CDA) were those that gave criminal penalties to those who knowingly sent any comment, request, suggestion, proposal, image, or other communication deemed "indecent or obscene", to a person under 18. Penalties were also put forth if this information was received by persons under 18. In addition, the "indecent" material included any information that portrayed or described "sexual or excretory activities or organs" in a way deemed "offensive" by community standards. The overall problem was that the Act was unclear and overly broad concerning what internet communications should be criminalized. #

c. The CDA was being challenged because it violated the First Amendment. In trying to keep minors away from inappropriate material the Act reduced "the freedom of speech" by restricting what adults could send over the internet. #

2) Legal Precedent:
a. Sable Communications of California v. FCC (1989) was in response to a ban on indecent and obscene interstate commercial phone messages. Sable Communications was in the dial-a-porn business. The supreme court decision was that the ban on obscene speech was valid since the constitution does not protect that, however the indecent speech was protected. # Renton



Citations: ACLU American Civil Liberties Union. March 25,2007 ACLU American Civil Liberties Union. March 25,2007 Biography. March 25, 2007 Electronic Privacy Information Center. March 25, 2007 The UCLA Online Institute for Cyberspace Law and Policy. June 27, 1997. March 25,2007 U.S. Supreme Court Media OYEZ. March 25,2007 U.S. Supreme Court Media OYEZ. March 25,2007 U.S. Supreme Court Media OYEZ. March 25,2007 U.S. Supreme Court Media OYEZ. March 25,2007

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Facts: On December 3, 1990, Vanderbilt and DiNardo executed an employment contract hiring DiNardo to be Vanderbilt's head football coach. On August 14, 1994, Paul Hoolahan, Vanderbilt's Athletic Director, went to Bell Buckle, Tennessee, where the football team was practicing, to talk to DiNardo about a contract extension. In November 1994, Louisiana State University contacted Vanderbilt in hopes of speaking with DiNardo about becoming the head football coach for L.S.U. Hoolahan gave DiNardo permission to speak to L.S.U. about the position. On December 12, 1994, DiNardo announced that he was accepting the L.S.U. position. Vanderbilt sent a demand letter to DiNardo seeking payment of liquidated damages under section eight of the contract. Vanderbilt believed that DiNardo was liable for three years of his net salary: one year under the original contract and two years under the Addendum. DiNardo did not respond to Vanderbilt's demand for payment.…

    • 634 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Children 's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) was performed in the year 2000. This act was intended to protect children when being on the internet. It was intended for schools and libraries at first now anyone can protect children from the harmful views of the internet. CIPA required all schools and libraries to protect their websites for children. Some schools and libraries receive a discount for internet access or internal connections through the E-rate program. This program is more affordable for eligible schools and libraries. There are certain conditions for schools and libraries that are eligible for the discount of the E-rate program. These have to certify that they have an internet safety policy that includes technology protection. This protection must block or filter internet access to pictures that are obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors. (FCC, 2011)…

    • 559 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    United States vs. ALA

    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages

    CASE SUMMARY: In this case the American Library Association (ALA) challenged in court the constitutionality of the Child Internet Protection Act (CIPA) enacted in 2000, saying that it violated the First Amendment. In this lawsuit ALA sued to overturn the requirement that libraries restrict patrons’ access to computer information, that if Internet filters were not installed, federal funding and computer discounts, such as the E-rate program and Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants would be withheld. The court ruled in favor of CIPA, stating that CIPA applies to the restriction of children’s access to Internet information, particularly to block minors’ access to pornographic images and obscene material, but not to adults. However, the decision was reversed by the Supreme Court in favor of ALA, saying that the CIPA law could not be upheld without limiting adult access to information protected by the First Amendment.…

    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Furman V Georgia

    • 1056 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In today’s time discrimination is a highly used factor when it comes to the way people form their opinions about societal issues as well as different individuals we may come in contact with. We base our perceptions of people off of what only the eye can see rather than getting to know a person for the skills they possess and what the can bring to the table. Back in 1967 discrimination was something that was common to use amongst the white or rich community towards the blacks, poor, or uneducated folks in the south. One situation in particular was a Supreme Court case of Furman v the state of Georgia. As you read throughout this paper I hope you began to form your own opinion about discrimination and the way it is used in our society as well as how this Supreme Court case has impacted the change in the way our judicial system works when it come to a fair and just conviction.…

    • 1056 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    With the internet changing constantly every day the United States Congress are implementing many legislative acts to address concerns with the usage of different kinds of technology. There are many advances in information technology that resulted in ethical issues such as the creation of the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) which was put into law in the year of 2000 by Congress. This law addresses any concerns about access to offensive content on the internet in the schools and libraries. Children and teenagers are exposed to the internet daily in schools, public, and at home. The internet can expose children to inappropriate material and predators online. The schools and libraries must enforce an Internet safety policy that contains protection measures, which block or filter the internet access to images that are obscene, child pornography, and what is harmful to minors. The main purpose of the act is to protect children from the dangers that the internet has ("Federal Communications Commission", n.d.).…

    • 277 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In 1847 the Dred Scott v. Sanford decision was made. This decision went all the way to…

    • 1025 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Armarcion D. Henderson v. The United States of America, 11-9307 (2011) Retrieved from sblog.s3.amaxonaws.com Academic database < http://sblog.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/11-9307-Henderson-v.-U.S.-Petition.pdf>…

    • 1224 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Fec vs. Citizens United

    • 1289 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The First Amendment has been one of the most controversial issues surrounding the Constitutions since its ratification in 1787. The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Many people disagree on the extent of power the First Amendment actually has on the right to free speech. One of the most controversial issues surrounding the First Amendment is how much influence a company can have over elections and campaigns. Huge corporations are known to pay billions of dollars to endorse certain politicians, and in turn the politicians pass legislation benefitting the corporation. Is this fair, or even legal? The Supreme Court case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission dove right into the issue. Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission was an important United States Supreme Court case in which it was decided that the First Amendment prohibited the government from restricting political expenditures by corporations and unions. Citizens United, a nonprofit organization, produced a political controversial video on Senator Hillary Clinton prior to the 2008 primary elections, known as Hillary: The Movie. The documentary covered Hillary Clinton's life while in the Senate, the White House as First Lady and during her bid for presidential Democratic nominee. However, the documentary falls within the definition of "electioneering communications" under the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 ("BCRA")-a federal enactment designed to prevent "big money" from unfairly influencing federal elections. In a 5–4 decision, the Court held that BCRA violated the First Amendment.…

    • 1289 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gregg V. Georgia 1976

    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages

    A Jury found Troy Gregg guilty of committing an armed robbery and murder. In accordance with Georgia law, the trial was in two stages, a guilt stage, and a sentencing stage. At the guilt stage of Georgia's bifurcated procedure, the jury found the petitioner guilty of two accounts armed robbery and murder. At the penalty stage, the judge instructed the jury that it could recommend either a death sentence or a life prison sentence on each count and the jury returned the verdict of death. Challenging his death sentence, Gregg claimed that his capital sentence was "cruel and unusual" punishment, violating the 8th and 14th amendment.…

    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    R vs Sharpe Law Summary

    • 885 Words
    • 4 Pages

    CBC NEWS, R vs Sharpe: Excerpts from the Supreme Court ruling on Child Pornography, March 8/2004…

    • 885 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    law assignment USA

    • 1767 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The first amendment protects the freedom of speech. This case of Reno v American Civil Liberties Union represents an interesting debate on protection of freedom of speech versus regulation of material which is regarded indecent. The subject matter in this case was the Communication Decency Act against Internet on the issue of indecency. The case compared Internet with Library, Television and Public Place. However, in comparing with these mediums, Internet appears to be slightly, if not majorly, different. It is because, when compared with the television, the internet user might have to go…

    • 1767 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Reno V. Case Study

    • 282 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The 1996 Federal Communications Decency Act sought to protect minors from “indecent” and offensive Internet materials. The Act made it a crime to transmit obscene or indecent messages over the Internet. Immediately after the CDA became law, twenty parties filed suit.…

    • 282 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    could not be accessed and used by anybody under the age of 18. These works of…

    • 1853 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) was ‘…established in 1994 to focus public attention on emerging civil liberties issues and to protect privacy, freedom of expression and constitutional values in the information age.” (EPIC 2003 annual report). EPIC represents the civil liberties of electronic and internet users, individuals whose personal and “Automated health care records” (EPIC 2003 annual report) that are stored and transmitted electronically, and all persons that are affected by the vast electronic information society. The electronic and internet resources that are represented include “data protection, telephone tapping, genetic databases, ID systems and freedom of information laws.” (EPIC 2003 annual report). The primary demographic that EPIC targets are users of the internet and…

    • 1093 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Television Censorship

    • 1622 Words
    • 7 Pages

    "The beginning of a new legal approach may be traced to the action of the…

    • 1622 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays