Ashcroft Vs. Free Speech Coalition

Ashcroft Vs. Free Speech Coalition

Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, 535 U.S. 234 (2002), struck down two overbroad provisions of the Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996 because they abridged "the freedom to engage in a substantial amount of lawful speech." The case was brought against the Government by the Free Speech Coalition, a "California trade association for the adult-entertainment industry;" along with Bold Type, Inc., a "publisher of a book advocating the nudist lifestyle;" Jim Gingerich, who paints nudes; and Ron Raffaelli, a photographer who specialized in erotic images. By striking down these two provisions, the Court rejected an invitation to increase the amount of speech that would be categorically outside the protection of the First Amendment.