ACLU Suit Against Congress Re CDC -- Fake But Not A Bad Idea

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, June 17, 1996 The ACLU has filed ACLU v. Congress to recover legal costs incurred as a result of their successful lawsuit ACLU v. Reno. In the ACLU v. Reno case, the ACLU won a preliminary injuction barring the prosecution of cases under the so-called "Communications Deceny Act," or CDA. The CDA aimed to reduce all discourse on the global Internet to a level suitable for children. "The ACLU and a number of cooperating organizations and individuals have accrued legal bills amounting to several hundred thousand dollars as a result of this case," said Ima Sasser, ACLU Executive Director. "It is our position that those members of Congress - both House and Senate - who voted in favor of this bill acted with extreme negligence in doing so, and are directly responsible for these costs." The challenge to the CDA was mounted by the ACLU and 57 other groups, many of which depend largely on charitable contributions to cover their expenses. ACLU spokes^H^H^H^H^Hhoaxperson Nathan Waddoups states that "it is the position of the ACLU that members of Congress must be held accountable when their actions lead to the enactment of unconstitutional law. Hence, the ACLU feels strongly that all members of Congress voting for the passage of the unconstitutional CDA should themselves bear the costs associated with the reversal of their actions." "I have no hesitancy in concluding that it is likely that the plaintiffs will prevail on the merits of their argument that the challenged provisions of the CDA are facially invalid under both the First and Fifth Amendments, said Dolores K. Sloviter, Chief Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (speaking of the ACLU's case against the CDA). The American Civil Liberties Union is the nation's foremost advocate of individual rights -- litigating, legislating, and educating the public on a broad array of issues affecting individual freedom in the United States. By nate waddoups >nathan@metareality.com ----- Brought to you by - The 'Lectric Law Library The Net's Finest Legal Resource For Legal Pros & Laypeople Alike. http://www.lectlaw.com