Opinion ID: 1935582
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Local Licensing of Amusements Prohibition of Obscene Shows and Performances.

Text: Any town council, the board of police commissioners, or in the case of the city of Providence, the bureau of licenses, or any other licensing board or authority in any city or town may require a license for each particular performance, show or exhibition but may deny any such license only upon the ground that the said performance, show, or exhibition is obscene. In the event that any person, firm, corporation or association shall apply for a license for any particular performance, show or exhibition and the town council, the board of police commissioners or in the case of the city of Providence, the bureau of licenses, or any other licensing board or authority in any city or town to which said application is directed is of the opinion that the said license should not be granted on the ground that the said performance, show or exhibition is obscene, the said town council, the board of police commissioners, or in the case of the city of Providence, the said bureau of licenses or the said licensing board or authority shall within forty-eight (48) hours of the filing of such application, either grant the license sought or commence a suit against the said person, firm, corporation or association in the superior court for Providence and Bristol counties by the filing of a complaint wherein shall be contained prayers that the said performance, show or exhibition be adjudged obscene and that the said person, firm, corporation or association be permanently enjoined from presenting or conducting it in the particular city or town. Forthwith upon the commencement of the said proceeding, the said person, firm, corporation or association shall be notified by the clerk of said court of its pendency. The said matter shall then be heard by a justice of the said court on the question of whether or not the said performance, show or exhibition is obscene within one (1) day of the joinder of issue, and the said justice shall render a decision within forty-eight (48) hours of the conclusion of said hearing. The superior court shall give preference to such cases over all other cases in said court except older cases of like nature, and such cases shall be assignable to any calendar in the said court. In determining the time periods heretofore set forth in this section Saturdays, Sundays and court holidays shall not be counted and the superior court shall not be required to hear such cases on said days. Throughout the said proceeding, the party initiating the same shall have the burden of proof, and if any of the provisions of this paragraph have not been strictly complied with either by the party initiating the proceeding or the court, the said license shall be issued forthwith.