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Judge Asked to Dismiss Pornography Industry’s Lawsuit Against State of Utah


WEBWIRE

Defending Utah Families’ Right to Keep Adult Materials Out of Their Homes

SALT LAKE CITY, UT (May 25, 2006) — The operator of the Utah Child Protection Registry has filed motion to dismiss the lawsuit brought by the so-called “Free Speech Coalition,” a group representing the extreme fringe of the pornography industry. The Attorney General’s Office, representing the State of Utah in the lawsuit, joined supporting the motion. Filed before Judge Dale Kimball in U.S. District Court, the motion combats the pornographer’s efforts to shut down Utah’s Child Protection Registry (http://www.kidsregistry.utah.gov).

The Child Protection Registry is a free program of the State of Utah that allows residents to designate their homes as off-limits to adult-oriented solicitations sent via e-mail, text messaging, instant messenger, or fax. The pornography industry filed suit last November claiming they had a First Amendment right to continue to send solicitations deemed “harmful to minors” into Utah’s homes even after parents explicitly asked them to stop by listing their children’s addresses on the Registry.

“Kids have the right to be kids and Utah’s parents have the right to keep this highly offensive material out of their homes,” said Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff. “We will vigorously defend the rights of Utah parents against an unbridled industry that refuses to respect our community’s standards.”

To date, over 150,000 addresses of Utah citizens are protected under the law. The Division of Consumer Protection filed its first citation against a sender in January. The cited company, a member of the Free Speech Coalition, is alleged to have sent solicitations for the website www.HoneyIF***edTheBabySitter.com to an address used by a Utah child. In addition, the same company allegedly runs websites such as: www.FinallyEighteen.com, www.DeepThroatMen.com, and www.SluttySchoolBus.com.

“The Utah statute at issues is plainly constitutional and fosters Utah parents’ right to raise their children in a manner they see fit,” said Parker Douglas, the author of the motion and an attorney with the firm of Hatch, James & Dodge.

While the lawsuit is pending, Utah’s families and schools may still register their addresses to receive protection by visiting www.kidsregistry.utah.gov.

MEDIA CONTACT
Erin E. Barry
Utah Kids Registry, Media Relations
erin.barry@utahkidsregistry.com
Tel. 435-615-9205 x.303 or 435-513-2631



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