Supreme Court to decide CIPA's fate; does the Internet filtering law tread on First Amendment rights? (news).(Children's Internet Protection Act)

Does the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) violate First Amendment rights or is the government simply trying to protect youngsters from viewing online smut at public libraries? Three federal judges from the District Court of Eastern Pennsylvania are expected to give their answer in early May, following two weeks of testimony from supporters and critics of the law. But it doesn't end there. Whatever the trial's outcome, both sides--the U.S. government and the American Library, Association (ALA)--are expected to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

CIPA, which was passed by Congress in December 2000, forces public libraries to install filtering software on their …