HOME > First Amendment Library > Case   Memoirs v. Massachusetts (Docket #: 368) (1966)  [Findlaw] Secondary Link Memoirs v. Massachusetts  [Legal Information Institute] Argument Date 12/07/1965 Decided 03/21/1966 Supreme Court Vote 6-3 Supreme Court Ruling First Amendment claim sustained; The Court reaffirmed that books could not be deemed obscene unless they were unqualifiedly worthless, even if the books possessed prurient appeal and were "patently offensive." Majority Opinion Brennan, J. (joined by Warren, C.J., and Fortas, J.) Concurring Opinion Black, J. and Stewart, J. & Douglas, J. Dissenting Opinion Clark, J. & Harlan, J. & White, J. Lower Court Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Lower Court Ruling First Amendment claim denied Oral Arguments Oral Arguments  [Oyez] Oral Arguments2  [Oyez] Lawyers For Petitioner Charles Rembar For Respondent William I. Cowin, Assistant Attorney General of Massachusetts Briefs For Respondent Edward W. Brooke, Attorney General, and John E. Sullivan, Assistant Attorney General For Amicus Citizens for Decent Literature, Inc. Opinion - Lower Court Attorney General v. A Book Named "John Cleland's Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure," 349 Mass. 69; 206 N.E.2d 403  SEARCH MORE About this site About the First Amendment About the First Amendment Center How to contribute Video/RSS/podcasts First Amendment programs State of the First Amendment reports Religious liberty in public schools First Reports Supreme Court Columnists Experts First Amendment publications 1 for All First Amendment Center history Glossary Freedom Sings™ Events Congressional Research Service reports Guest editorials The First Amendment Library Lesson plans freedomforum.org Newseum Contact us Privacy statement Related links

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