Case Categories: Book Banning and Libraries

This is a list of significant court cases related to book banning and libraries. The cases cover disputes such as the breadth of the authority of local school boards to remove certain books from school libraries, and the authority of the state to seize and destroy obscene books.

• A Quantity of Books v. Kansas (1964)

  In A Quantity of Books v. Kansas (1964), the Court held that a state statute allowing obscene materials to be seized and confiscated violated the First...

• Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District v. Pico (1982)

  Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District v. Pico (1982) held that public schools can't remove books to suppress ideas. Schools must follow...

• Evans v. Selma Union High School District of Fresno County (California Supreme Court) (1924)

  Evans v. Selma Union High School District of Fresno County (Cal. 1924) said a high school buying copies of the Bible for its library did not violate the First...

• Kingsley Books, Inc. v. Brown (1957)

  In Kingsley Books, Inc. v. Brown (1957), the Court upheld a state statute that allowed for the destruction of obscene materials after an expedited hearing...

• Minarcini v. Strongsville City School District (6th Circuit) (1976)

  Minarcini v. Strongsville City School District (6th Cir. 1976) upheld that school board officials do not have unfettered discretion to remove books from library...

• Smith v. California (1959)

  Smith v. California (1959) overturned a California law that criminalized the sale of obscene books, saying it was too vague and infringed upon First Amendment...