Alabama court limits obscenity prosecution

(December 31) The Alabama Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a person can be convicted only once for possession of obscene material, no matter how many pictures he had when arrested. The ruling upheld a lower court decision in the case of a man who was convicted of 10 counts of possession for obscene material involving boys under 18.

The Gadsen Times

Lewinsky denied legal fees reimbursement

(December 31) A federal appellate panel has ruled that former White House intern Monica S. Lewinsky is not entitled to be reimbursed for $1.1 million she spent in legal fees related to an independent counsel investigation of President Bill Clinton and his sexual affair with her. The panel said Lewinsky failed to meet the standard for reimbursement of her legal bills by U.S. taxpayers.

The Washington Post

WI state park nudity ban may pass

(December 31) The long war over nude sunbathing at a state beach near Mazomanie, Wisconsin may finally be won by the prudes now that Republicans control both houses of that state's legislature. A new bill streaking its way to the governor's desk would fine anyone who gets naked on public or state-owned or -managed property.

The Wisconsin State Journal

Malicious prosecution in ritual sex scandal

(December 31) Twelve people wrongly accused of ritual and bizarre abuse against three foster children in the early 1990s were victims of a malicious prosecution, a Canadian court has ruled. The bizarre allegations made and later recanted by some of the children included detailed accounts of satanic ritual abuse, which included animal and human sacrifice.

The National Post

Cops cite nude net model Melissa Lincoln

(December 30) Cops in Lincoln, Nebraska yesterday ticketed nude Internet model Melissa Lincoln for public nudity, using as evidence photos posted on her website that show her naked at a downtown watering hole and other places around the city. The 21-year-old blonde model (real name, Melissa J. Harrington) faces a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $500 fine.

USA Today

Appeals court okays nude Barbie art

(December 30) A federal appeals court lambasted toymaker Mattel, saying its lawsuit against a Utah artist who photographed naked Barbie dolls in bizarre settings "may have been groundless and unreasonable." Mattel said the pictures, which often showed Barbie posed in sexually provocative positions, could confuse consumers into believing it was behind the works.

The San Francisco Chronicle