The brief, presented by the law firm of Schnader Harrison Degal &Lewis, supports a challenge to the Communications Decency Act, signed into law byPresident Clinton Feb. 8, 1996. The law makes it a crime to use a computerto transmit or display "indecent" material that might be accessible toanyone under the age of 18.
Schnader, et al prepared the brief on behalf of 25 individuals andorganizations allied with the American Civil Liberties Union. That groupopposes the law on the grounds that it is too restrictive, and couldprevent access to Internet publication of some valuable healthinformation, news,literature and art.
The attorneys are presenting the 15 CD-ROMs along with the sameinformation on paper as required by the Supreme Court. The court agreed toaccept the CD-ROMs which will be treated much like video and audio tapesin other cases. The CD-ROM brief is interactive, with colorfulillustrations and hyperlinks to other Internet sites.
The Supreme Court has the technology to use the CD-ROMs, althoughjustices do not have access to the Internet on their individual computers.They will have to use one of two computers with Internet access. One isthe the Supreme Court library and one is in a technology room.
James D. Crawford, the lead lawyer for the brief, says his group ishoping that use of Internet technology to research thiscase will give justices a different perspective and will add tothe impact of the fight against censorship on the World Wide Web.
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