NCW Libraries

Washington State Supreme Court hears oral arguments in the case of Sarah Bradburn, et al. v. North Central Regional Library District. Under the WA Constitution, must a library disable its Internet filter to allow adult access to consititutionally-protected speech.

Even though the text of the First Amendment provides that "Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech," it has long been established that there are certain categories of expression that did not receive First Amendment protection. One of those well established exceptions is obscenity. In particular, the government has a compelling interest in protecting minors from obscene and harmful material. In United States v. American Library Association...