Opinion ID: 77229
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Georgia’s Obscenity Statute

Text: As emphasized by the defendants’ brief, the Georgia legislature enacted O.C.G.A. § 16-12-80 with the “main purpose” of “advanc[ing] the government’s interest in promoting public morality.” Toward that end, § 16-12-80 regulates the distribution of obscene material, in relevant part, as follows: (a) A person commits the offense of distributing obscene material when he sells, lends, rents, leases, gives, advertises, publishes, exhibits, or otherwise disseminates to any person any obscene material of any description . . . . ... (c) Any device designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs is obscene material under this Code section. ... (e) It is an affirmative defense under this Code section that dissemination of the material was restricted to: (1) A person associated with an institution of higher learning, either as a member of the faculty or a matriculated student, teaching or pursuing a course of study related to such material; or (2) A person whose receipt of such material was authorized in writing by a licensed medical practitioner or psychiatrist. O.C.G.A. § 16-12-80. Thus, for the purposes of this case, section (a) makes it unlawful to sell, lend, rent, lease, give, advertise, publish, exhibit, or otherwise disseminate obscene 3 material. O.C.G.A. § 16-12-80(a). Section (c) defines obscene material to include those “device[s] designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs”; for example, vibrators and dildos. O.C.G.A. § 16-12-80(c). Section (e) provides an affirmative defense when the “dissemination” of otherwise obscene material was to higher education faculty and students or to persons with a valid prescription. O.C.G.A. § 16-12-80(e).