Comstock Act Law and Legal Definition
The Comstock Act (“Act”) is a federal legislation enacted in 1873. The Act was named after New England Congregationalist, Anthony Comstock. The Act is a criminal statute designed for the suppression of trade in and circulation of obscene literature and articles of immoral use. The Act prohibits the distribution of information on abortion for educational purposes. Although the Act was amended to delete references to contraceptive devices, it still remains on the books and forbids the use of mails to distribute obscene material. [Williams v. AG of Ala., 378 F.3d 1232 (11th Cir. Ala. 2004)].
