Groups battling pornography must demonstrate that the products they seek to ban are truly obscene and not legitimately protected by the First Amendment--a requirement that often leads to public debate and controversy. Author Thomas C. Mackey thoroughly examines the problems and issues in public policymaking, legal precedents, and the people behind them.

After a brief historical background, "Pornography on Trial" surveys and analyzes the leading issues and case law on obscenity from l957 to the present. Half the book consists of documents--judicial opinions--from key cases. There are...