ALAWON v6n49 (June 29, 1997) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/alawon/alawon-v6n49 ================================================================= ALAWON Volume 6, Number 49 ISSN 1069-7799 June 29, 1997 American Library Association Washington Office Newsline In this issue: (102 lines) VICTORY -- ALA CELEBRATES SUPREME COURT RULING ON CDA _________________________________________________________________ Editor's note: The following is a June 27 press release from ALA's Public Information Office. VICTORY -- ALA CELEBRATES SUPREME COURT RULING ON CDA Chicago -- The American Library Association, a lead plaintiff in opposing the Communications Decency Act, is celebrating the Supreme Court's ruling as a victory for librarians, Internet users and everyone who cares about free speech. The Act was ruled unconstitutional on June 26 by a unanimous vote. If enforced, the law would have limited communication on the Internet to what is suitable for minors. "The Supreme Court ruling means that Americans will enjoy the same access to information in cyberspace that we have on library and bookstores shelves. It means parents can decide for their own children what they do -- and don't -- want them to read," said Mary R. Somerville, president of the 57,000 member American Library Association. "We believe that strict enforcement of existing laws, public education and improved technology can address these concerns in a way that does not violate the free speech of adults." Judith F. Krug, director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, said the court's ruling "recognized not only the importance of this new communications format, but also the importance of libraries in making information in all forms available and accessible to everyone. This decision means we can continue to do our jobs without fear of prosecution." In its ruling, the court agreed with ALA and other plaintiffs that the law was so broad and poorly defined that it violated the free speech rights of adults. "It is true that we have repeatedly recognized the governmental interest in protecting children from harmful materials," wrote Justice John Paul Stevens. "But that interest does not justify an unnecessarily broad suppression of speech addressed to adults." Bruce Ennis, attorney for the ALA and the Freedom to Read Foundation who argued the case before the Supreme Court, called the court's decision "the legal birth certificate for the Internet." He cited the American Library Association for taking a lead role in organizing opposition to the CDA and said it took courage to stand up against something that was perceived to be in the interests of children. Tips for parents and hot links to "50 Great Sites for Kids" can be online on the ALA Web page at http://www.ala.org/parentspage/greatsites. The American Library Association was the lead plaintiff in a suit filed by the Citizens Internet Empowerment Coalition, which included journalists, publishers, parents, on-line providers and other groups. The suit challenged the Act on the grounds that it was overly broad and so vaguely worded that it could subject librarians and other members of the public to criminal prosecution for posting materials online that are legal in other media. That case, upheld last year by a Federal District Court panel in Philadelphia, was combined with a similar suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in the case reviewed by the Supreme Court. _________________________________________________________________ ALAWON is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. To subscribe, send the message: subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname] to listproc @ala.org. ALAWON archives at http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. Visit our Web site at http://www.alawash.org. ALA Washington Office 202.628.8410 (V) 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, #403 202.628.8419 (F) Washington, DC 20004-1701 800.941.8478 (V) Lynne E. Bradley, Editor Deirdre Herman, Managing Editor Contributors: Carol C. Henderson Claudette Tennant All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. =================================================================