Final Exam Study Guide
Chapter 9 ("Indecency and Obscenity")
I. Be able to define and explain the following concepts:
1. Obscenity v. indecency, including differences and definitions
2. Miller obscenity test-know thoroughly all three prongs and be able to
apply the test to a real or hypothetical case
3. Standards for child pornography v. adult pornography
4. PROTECT Act, including major provisions
5. Pandering
6. Scienter
7. Variable obscenity
8. Patently offensive (obscenity and indecency)
9. Live nudity, including restrictions and protection
10. RICO statutes, including use and constitutionality
II. Be familiar with the following cases, including the holding (ruling) of the court, the
court's rationale (reasoning) for its decision, and the impact of the decision on media law:
1. U.S. v. Williams (SCOTUS-to be decided), including specific issues and
PROTECT Act (virtual child pornography) (see handout)
2. New York v. Ferber (SCOTUS-1982) (nonobscene child pornography)
3. United States v. X-Citement Video (SCOTUS-1943) (scienter)
4. Ginzburg v. United States (SCOTUS-1966) (pandering)
5. Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition (SCOTUS-2002) (virtual child pornography)
6. Mishkin v. New York (SCOTUS-1966) (deviant obscenity)
7. Ginsberg v. New York (SCOTUS-1966) (pandering)
8. Miller v. California (SCOTUS-1973) (3-prong test for obscenity)
9. Jenkins v. Georgia (SCOTUS-1974) (nudity)
10. Pope v. Illinois (SCOTUS-1987) (prong three of Miller test)
11. City of Erie v. Pap's A.M. (SCOTUS-1982) (nude dancing)
12. United States v. American Library Association (SCOTUS-2003) Children's
Internet Protection Act-federal funding)
13. Reno v. ACLU (SCOTUS-1997) (constitutionality of Communications Decency
Act)
14. City of Renton v. Playtime Theatres (SCOTUS-1984) (zoning laws-obscenity)
15. Stanley v. Georgia (SCOTUS-2002) (privacy-obscenity)
16. Smith v. California (SCOTUS-1995) (scienter-obscenity)
17. Ashcroft v. ACLU (SCOTUS-2002) (Child Online Protection Act)
18. Los Angeles v. Alameda Books (SCOTUS-2002) (zoning-obscenity)
Chapter 10 ("Right of Privacy")
I. Be able to define and explain the following terms and concepts:
1. Four torts of privacy, including elements and defenses
2. Fourth Amendment rights (unreasonable search and seizure)
3. Participant monitoring v. consensual monitoring (intrusion)
4. Privilege defense (publicizing private matters)
5. Federal Educational Right of Privacy Act (FERPA), including major provisions
6. Common usage and common custom and practice , including three conditions (intrusion)
7. Right of publicity, including survivability after death
8. De minimis (appropriation defense)
9. Lookalikes and soundalikes (appropriation)
10. False light v. libel--differences
II. Be familiar with the following cases, including the holding (ruling) of the court,
the court's rationale (reasoning) for its decision, and the impact of the
decision on media law:
1. Wilson v. Layne (SCOTUS-1999) (media ride-alongs)
2. Zacchini v. Scripps Howard Broadcasting (SCOTUS-1977) (right of publicity)
3. Reno v. Condon (SCOTUS-1999) (federal Drivers Privacy Protection Act)
4. Cox Broadcasting v. Cohn (SCOTUS-1975) (publication of rape victim's name)
5. Florida Star v. B.J.F. (SCOTUS-1989) (publication of rape victim's name)
6. Chandler v. Miller (SCOTUS-1997) (privacy-intrusion)
7. Veronia School District v. Acton (SCOTUS-1998) (public high school student privacy)
8. Board of Education v. Earls (SCOTUS-2002) (public high school student privacy-random
drug tests)
9. Oswasso Independent School District v. Falvo (SCOTUS-2002) (FERPA-peer grading)
10. Gonzaga University v. Doe (SCOTUS-2002) (FERPA-student records)
11. Bowers v. Hardwick (SCOTUS-1986) and Lawrence v. Texas (SCOTUS-2003)
(constitutionality of sodomy statutes)
12. Bartnicki v. Vopper (SCOTUS-2001) (cell phone interceptions-journalists as innocent
third parties)
Chapter 11 ("Access to the Judicial Process, Records, Places and Meetings")
I. Be able to define and explain the following terms and concepts:
1. Open records statutes - federal (FOIA) and state
2. Open meetings statutes - federal (Government in the Sunshine Act) and state
3. Right of access to civil trials (federal and GA)
4. Right of access to criminal trials in GA
5. Blanket ban on publication of juvenile offender names
6. Mandatory closure of courtrooms
7. Right of access to prisons and inmates
II. Be familiar with the following cases, including the holding (ruling) of the court,
the court's rationale (reasoning) for its decision, and the impact of the decision
on media law:
1. Richmond Newspapers v. Virginia (SCOTUS-1980) (access to criminal trials)
2. Chandler v. Florida (SCOTUS-1982) (cameras in the courtroom)
3. Sheppard v. Maxwell (SCOTUS-1966) (defendant's right to speedy and public
trial)
4. Nebraska Press Association v. Judge Stuart (SCOTUS-1976) (use of restrictive orders by
judges)
5. Press Enterprise I (SCOTUS-1984) (access to voir dire)
6. Press Enterprise II (SCOTUS-1986) (access to preliminary hearings)
Also be sure to read and be familiar with the content in the chapters 5 and 8 in Lisby and the following handouts from class:
1. "Justices Hear Arguments on Internet Pornography Law"
2. "United States v. Williams"
3. "Long-Dead Celebrities Can Now Breathe Easier"
4. "Publicity Does Not Equal Prejudice"