williams argued october decided may found facially overbroad federal statutory provision criminalizing possession distribution material pandered child pornography regardless whether actually ashcroft free speech coalition congress passed pandering solicitation provision issue respondent williams pleaded guilty offense others reserved right challenge pandering conviction constitutionality district rejected challenge eleventh circuit reversed finding statute overbroad first amendment impermissibly vague due process clause held section overbroad first amendment pp statute facially invalid prohibits substantial amount protected speech section generally prohibits offers provide requests obtain child pornography targets underlying material collateral speech introducing material distribution network definition material purported material may pandered solicited precisely tracks material held constitutionally proscribable new york ferber miller california obscene material depicting actual virtual children engaged sexually explicit conduct material depicting actual children engaged sexually explicit conduct statute important features include scienter requirement operative verbs reasonably read penalize speech accompanies seeks induce child pornography transfer one person another phrase manner reflects belief subjective component defendant must actually held belief material purported material child pornography objective component statement action must manifest belief phrase manner intended cause another believe ibid subjective element defendant must intend listener believe material child pornography sexually explicit conduct definition similar new york statute upheld ferber pp thus construed statute criminalize substantial amount protected expressive activity offers engage illegal transactions categorically excluded first amendment protection pittsburgh press pittsburgh human relations eleventh circuit mistakenly believed exclusion extended commercial offers provide receive contraband exclusion rationale however based less privileged status commercial speech principle offers give receive unlawful possess social value thus enjoy first amendment protection constitutional defect free speech coalition pandering provision went beyond pandering prohibit possessing material otherwise proscribed eleventh circuit erroneous conclusion led apply strict scrutiny lodging three fatal objections lack merit pp section impermissibly vague due process clause conviction fails comport due process statute obtained fails provide person ordinary intelligence fair notice prohibited standardless authorizes encourages seriously discriminatory enforcement hill colorado first amendment context plaintiffs may argue statute overbroad unclear whether regulates substantial amount protected speech hoffman estates flipside hoffman estates nn eleventh circuit mistakenly believed manner reflects belief manner intended cause another believe vague standardless phrases left public objective measure conformance renders statute vague however possibility sometimes difficult determine whether incriminating fact establishes proved rather indeterminacy fact see coates cincinnati indeterminacy statute requirements clear questions fact may difficult cases determine whether requirements met courts juries every day pass upon reasonable import defendant statements upon knowledge belief intent american communications assn douds pp reversed scalia delivered opinion roberts stevens kennedy thomas breyer alito joined stevens filed concurring opinion breyer joined souter filed dissenting opinion ginsburg joined petitioner michael williams writ certiorari appeals eleventh circuit may justice scalia delivered opinion section title code criminalizes certain specified circumstances pandering solicitation child pornography case presents question whether statute overbroad first amendment impermissibly vague due process clause fifth amendment long held obscene speech sexually explicit material violates fundamental notions decency protected first amendment see roth protect explicit material social value limited scope obscenity exception overturned convictions distribution sexually graphic nonobscene material see miller california see also jenkins georgia last years confronted related overlapping category proscribable speech child pornography see ashcroft free speech coalition osborne ohio new york ferber consists sexually explicit visual portrayals feature children held statute proscribes distribution child pornography even material qualify obscenity face violate first amendment see moreover held government may criminalize possession child pornography even though may criminalize mere possession obscene material involving adults compare osborne supra stanley georgia broad authority proscribe child pornography however unlimited four terms ago held facially overbroad two provisions federal child pornography protection act cppa free speech coalition first banned possession distribution visual appears minor engaging sexually explicit conduct even contained adult actors virtual images children generated computer quoting invalid explained rationale speech restriction apply materials produced without children see second provision issue free speech coalition criminalized possession distribution material pandered child pornography regardless whether actually see citing person thus face prosecution possessing unobjectionable material someone else pandered held prohibition prohibit pandering also facially overbroad ibid decision free speech coalition congress went back drawing board produced legislation unlikely title prosecutorial remedies tools end exploitation children today act stat shall refer act section act amended add new pandering solicitation provision relevant portions read follows person knowingly advertises promotes presents distributes solicits mails interstate foreign commerce means including computer material purported material manner reflects belief intended cause another believe material purported material contains obscene visual depiction minor engaging sexually explicit conduct ii visual depiction actual minor engaging sexually explicit conduct shall punished provided subsection supp section defines sexually explicit conduct actual simulated sexual intercourse including whether persons opposite sex ii bestiality iii masturbation iv sadistic masochistic abuse lascivious exhibition genitals pubic area person violation incurs minimum sentence years imprisonment maximum years act express findings indicate congress concerned limiting prohibition material proved feature actual children decision free speech coalition required enable many child pornographers evade conviction see stat emergence new technology repeated retransmission picture files internet make nearly impossible prove particular image produced using real children even though substantial evidence child pornography images trafficked today made abuse real children virtual imaging prohibitively expensive see also dept justice office community oriented policing services wortley smallbone child pornography internet may line hhtp hereinafter child pornography internet visited available clerk case file following facts appear opinion eleventh circuit april respondent michael williams using sexually explicit screen name signed public internet chat room secret service agent also signed chat room moniker lisa miami agent noticed williams posted message read dad toddler pics sic swap toddler pics live cam agent struck conversation williams leading electronic exchange nonpornographic pictures children agent picture fact doctored photograph adult soon thereafter williams messaged photographs men molesting daughter suspicious lisa miami agent proceeding williams demanded agent produce additional pictures williams posted following public message chat room room put uplink cuz im real cant appended declaration hyperlink clicked led seven pictures actual children aged approximately engaging sexually explicit conduct displaying genitals secret service obtained search warrant williams home agents seized two hard drives containing least images real children engaged sexually explicit conduct sadomasochistic williams charged one count pandering child pornography one count possessing child pornography pleaded guilty counts reserved right challenge constitutionality pandering conviction district rejected challenge sentenced concurrent sentences two counts sd app pet cert appeals eleventh circuit reversed pandering conviction holding statute overbroad impermissibly vague granted certiorari ii according first amendment overbreadth doctrine statute facially invalid prohibits substantial amount protected speech doctrine seeks strike balance competing social costs virginia hicks one hand threat enforcement overbroad law deters people engaging constitutionally protected speech inhibiting free exchange ideas hand invalidating law applications perfectly constitutional particularly law directed conduct antisocial made criminal obvious harmful effects order maintain appropriate balance vigorously enforced requirement statute overbreadth substantial absolute sense also relative statute plainly legitimate sweep see board trustees state univ fox broadrick oklahoma invalidation overbreadth strong medicine casually employed los angeles police dept reporting publishing quoting ferber first step overbreadth analysis construe challenged statute impossible determine whether statute reaches far without first knowing statute covers generally speaking prohibits offers provide requests obtain child pornography statute require actual existence child pornography respect differs statutes ferber osborne free speech coalition prohibited possession distribution child pornography rather targeting underlying material statute bans collateral speech introduces material distribution network thus internet user solicits child pornography undercover agent violates statute even officer possesses child pornography likewise person advertises virtual child pornography depicting actual children also falls within reach statute statute definition material purported material may pandered solicited precisely tracks material held constitutionally proscribable ferber miller obscene material depicting actual virtual children engaged sexually explicit conduct material depicting actual children engaged sexually explicit conduct see free speech coalition stating first amendment protect obscenity pornography produced actual children holding invalid challenged provision cppa cover ed materials beyond categories recognized ferber miller number features statute important analysis first statute includes scienter requirement first word knowingly applies immediately following subdivisions previously existing new issue think best reading term context applies every element two provisions case grammar structure enables challenged provision parts read apart knowingly requirement knowingly introduces challenged provision making clear applies provision entirety grammatical barrier reading way second statute string operative verbs advertises promotes presents distributes solicits reasonably read transactional connotation say statute penalizes speech accompanies seeks induce transfer child pornography via reproduction physical delivery one person another three verbs obvious advertising distributing soliciting steps taken course actual proposed transfer product typically exclusively commercial market taken isolation two remaining verbs promotes presents susceptible multiple meanings context however meanings narrowed commonsense canon noscitur sociis counsels word given precise content neighboring words associated see jarecki searle singer singer sutherland statutes statutory construction ed promotes list includes solicits distributes advertises sensibly read mean act recommending purported child pornography another person acquisition see american heritage dictionary ed def attempt sell popularize advertising publicity similarly presents context verbs associated means showing offering child pornography another person view acquisition see def make gift award envisioned acquisition course electronic one example reproduction image recipient computer screen clear conclusion words list relate transactions say relate commercial transactions one certainly distribute child pornography without expecting payment return indeed much internet file sharing child pornography participant makes files available free participants williams case distribution may involve sophisticated pedophile rings organized crime groups operate profit many cases carried individual amateurs seek financial reward child pornography internet run afoul statute speech need accompany seek induce transfer child pornography one person another third phrase manner reflects belief includes subjective objective components manner reflects belief quite different manner give one cause believe first formulation suggests defendant must actually held subjective belief material purported material child pornography thus misdescription leads listener believe defendant offering child pornography defendant fact believe material child pornography violate prong statute may however violate manner intended cause another believe prong misdescription intentional also objective component phrase manner reflects belief statement action must objectively manifest belief material child pornography mere belief without accompanying statement action lead reasonable person understand defendant holds belief insufficient fourth key phrase manner intended cause another believe contains subjective element defendant must intend listener believe material child pornography must select manner advertising promoting presenting distributing soliciting material thinks engender belief whether reasonable person think course ordinary case proof defendant intent fact objective matter manner advertising promoting presenting distributing soliciting plainly sought convey material child pornography fifth definition sexually explicit conduct visual depiction engaged actual minor covered act pandering soliciting prohibition even obscene similar definition sexual conduct new york statute upheld overbreadth challenge ferber defined sexual conduct simulated sexual intercourse deviate sexual intercourse sexual bestiality masturbation abuse lewd exhibition genitals congress used essentially constitutionally approved definition present act anything fact defined term sexually explicit conduct rather ferber merely sexual conduct renders definition immune facial constitutional attack imulated sexual intercourse phrase found ferber definition well even less susceptible application sorts sex scenes found movies suggest intercourse taking place without explicitly depicting without causing viewers believe actors actually engaging intercourse sexually explicit conduct connotes actual depiction sex act rather merely suggestion occurring simulated sexual intercourse sexual intercourse merely suggested rather sexual intercourse explicitly portrayed even though camera tricks otherwise may actually occurred portrayal must cause reasonable viewer believe actors actually engaged conduct camera critically unlike free speech coalition ii requirement visual depiction actual minor makes clear although sexual intercourse may simulated must involve actual children unless obscene change eliminates possibility virtual child pornography sex adult actors might covered term simulated sexual intercourse turn whether statute construed criminalizes substantial amount protected expressive activity offers engage illegal transactions categorically excluded first amendment protection pittsburgh press pittsburgh human relations giboney empire storage ice one think principle resolves present case since statute criminalizes offers provide requests obtain contraband child obscenity child pornography involving actual children proscribed see supp proscription constitutional see free speech coalition eleventh circuit however believed exclusion first amendment protection extended commercial offers provide receive contraband statute limited commercial speech extends also promotion presentation distribution solicitation must subject restriction protect act pandering provision strict scrutiny mistakes rationale categorical exclusion based less privileged first amendment status commercial speech see central hudson gas elec public serv principle offers give receive unlawful possess social value thus like obscenity enjoy first amendment protection see pittsburgh press supra many long established criminal proscriptions laws conspiracy incitement solicitation criminalize speech commercial intended induce commence illegal activities see ali model penal code solicitation commit crime conspiracy commit crime offers provide requests obtain unlawful material whether part commercial exchange similarly undeserving first amendment protection odd constitutional principle permitted government prohibit offers sell illegal drugs offers give away free sure remains important distinction proposal engage illegal activity abstract advocacy illegality see brandenburg ohio per curiam see also naacp claiborne hardware act us prohibit advocacy child pornography offers provide requests obtain doubt prohibition falls well within constitutional bounds constitutional defect found pandering provision issue free speech coalition went beyond pandering prohibit possession material otherwise proscribed sum hold offers provide requests obtain child pornography categorically excluded first amendment since eleventh circuit erroneously concluded otherwise applied strict scrutiny lodging three fatal objections address objections recast arguments congress gone beyond categorical exception eleventh circuit believed constitutional difficulty child pornography need exist trigger statute view fact statute punish braggart exaggerator outright liar rendered unconstitutional seems us strange constitutional calculus although held government ban fraudulent offers see illinois ex rel madigan telemarketing associates offers provide illegal products eleventh circuit forbid government punishing fraudulent offers provide illegal products see logic position anything statements doubly excluded first amendment eleventh circuit held brandenburg promotion illegal child pornography protected therefore overreaches criminalizing promotion child pornography discussed earlier however term promotes refer abstract advocacy statement believe child pornography legal even encourage obtain child pornography refers recommendation particular piece purported child pornography intent initiating transfer eleventh circuit found particularly objectionable fact reflects belief prong statute ensnare person mistakenly believes material child pornography ibid objection two conceptually distinct parts first eleventh circuit thought unconstitutional punish someone mistakenly distributing virtual child pornography real child pornography disagree offers deal illegal products otherwise engage illegal activity acquire first amendment protection offeror mistaken factual predicate offer pandering solicitation made unlawful act sorts inchoate crimes acts looking toward commission another crime delivery child pornography inchoate crimes attempt conspiracy example impossibility completing crime facts defendant believed defense courts agreement usually referred impossibility defense charge attempt lafave substantive criminal law ed author gives example intended sale illegal drug actually involved different substance ibid see also hamrick en banc holding impossibility defense attempt citing holdings four circuits ali model penal code comment attempt prosecutions defendant conduct measured according circumstances believes rather circumstances may existed fact heading eleventh circuit also thought statute apply someone subjectively believes innocuous picture child lascivious clause definition sexually explicit conduct lascivious exhibition genitals pubic area person defendant must believe picture contains certain material material fact merely estimation must meet statutory definition material issue harmless picture child bathtub defendant knowing material erroneously believes constitutes lascivious display genitals statute application williams amici raise objections demonstrate nothing forcefully tendency overbreadth doctrine summon forth endless stream fanciful hypotheticals williams argues example person offers nonpornographic photographs young girls pedophile punished statute pedophile secretly expects pictures contain child pornography brief respondent hypothetical implicate statute offeror hold belief intend recipient believe material child pornography amici contend advertisements mainstream hollywood movies depict underage characters sex violate statute brief free speech coalition et al amici curiae think implausible reputable distributor hollywood movies believes one films contains actual children engaging actual simulated sex camera even implausible intend make customers believe thing average person understands sex scenes mainstream movies use nonchild actors depict sexual activity way rise explicit level necessary statute cases raised oral argument question whether turning child pornography police might count present ing material see tr oral arg interpretation presents include turning material authorities course statute looks prosecution people deal child pornography effectively nullify provides affirmative defense possession ban defendant promptly delivers child pornography agency possession offense simply replaced pandering offense delivering material officers event verb present along distribute advertise well give lend deliver transfer used definition promote ferber see quoting penal law ann mckinney despite inclusion difficulty concluding new york statute survived facial challenge period since ferber despite similar statutory definitions state statutes see alaska stat del code title aware prosecution giving child pornography police hardly say therefore realistic danger deter activity new york state club city new york citing thornhill alabama also suggested oral argument statute might cover documentary footage atrocities committed foreign countries soldiers raping young children see tr oral arg perhaps material rises high level explicitness held required sort documentary footage course subject challenge courts presumably weigh educational interest dissemination information atrocities government interest preventing distribution materials constitute permanent record children degradation whose dissemination increases harm child ferber assuming constitutional balance struck favor documentary existence exception establish statute substantially overbroad mere fact one conceive impermissible applications statute sufficient render susceptible overbreadth challenge members city council los angeles taxpayers vincent vast majority applications statute raises constitutional problems whatever finally dissent accuses us silently overruling prior decisions ferber free speech coalition see post according dissent congress made around first amendment protection virtual child pornography prohibiting proposals transact images rather prohibiting images offer provide request receive virtual child pornography prohibited statute crime committed speaker believes intends listener believe subject proposed transaction depicts real children simply true means protected category expression inevitably suppressed post simulated child pornography available ever long offered sought real child pornography dissent require exception statute prohibition unbeknownst one parties proposal completed transaction unlawful said protected first amendment fail see first amendment interest served drawing distinction two defendants attempt acquire contraband one happens mistaken contraband nature acquire congress forbidden punishing attempt acquire believe documents actually fakes ask answer first amendment exception general principle criminal law person attempting commit crime need exonerated mistaken view facts iii alternative ground facial invalidation eleventh circuit held void vagueness vagueness doctrine outgrowth first amendment due process clause fifth amendment conviction fails comport due process statute obtained fails provide person ordinary intelligence fair notice prohibited standardless authorizes encourages seriously discriminatory enforcement hill colorado see also grayned city rockford although ordinarily plaintiff engages conduct clearly proscribed complain vagueness law applied conduct others relaxed requirement first amendment context permitting plaintiffs argue statute overbroad unclear whether regulates substantial amount protected speech hoffman estates flipside hoffman estates nn see also reno american civil liberties union perfect clarity precise guidance never required even regulations restrict expressive activity ward rock racism eleventh circuit believed phrases manner reflects manner intended cause another vague standardless may said public left objective measure behavior conformed gave two examples first email claiming contain photograph attachments including message says janie bath hubba hubba ibid according eleventh circuit given statute require actual existence illegal material government virtually unbounded discretion deem statement violation prong ibid second example entitled pics kids photograph attachment toddlers pajamas asleep beds ibid described three hypothetical senders proud grandparent chronic forwarder cute photos racy subject lines child molester seeks trade photographs graphic material according eleventh circuit manner photographs sent case identity sender content photographs irrelevant statute three senders arguably prosecuted pandering think neither hypotheticals without facts enable reasonable juror find beyond reasonable doubt speaker believed spoke manner reflected belief spoke manner intended cause another believe pictures displayed actual children engaged sexually explicit conduct defined act prosecutions thrown threshold eleventh circuit error fundamental merely selection unproblematic hypotheticals basic mistake lies belief mere fact close cases envisioned renders statute vague close cases imagined virtually statute problem poses addressed doctrine vagueness requirement proof beyond reasonable doubt see winship renders statute vague possibility sometimes difficult determine whether incriminating fact establishes proved rather indeterminacy precisely fact thus struck statutes tied criminal culpability whether defendant conduct annoying indecent wholly subjective judgments without statutory definitions narrowing context settled legal meanings see coates cincinnati reno supra indeterminacy statute requires defendant hold make statement reflects belief material child pornography communicate manner intended cause another believe clear questions fact whether someone held belief intent determination subjective judgment whether conduct annoying indecent similarly true false determination whether particular formulation reflects belief material purported material child pornography sure may difficult cases determine whether clear requirements met courts juries every day pass upon knowledge belief intent state men minds evidence words conduct ordinary human experience mental condition may inferred american communications assn douds citing wigmore evidence et seq ed similarly pass every day upon reasonable import defendant statements whether example fairly convey false representation see criminalizing perjury threat physical injury see criminalizing threats assault federal officials thus eleventh circuit contention gives law enforcement officials virtually unfettered discretion merit case laws fraud conspiracy solicitation child pornography harms debases defenseless citizens state federal governments sought suppress many years find proliferating new medium internet held unconstitutional congress previous attempt meet new threat congress responded carefully crafted attempt eliminate first amendment problems identified far provision issue case concerned effort successful judgment eleventh circuit reversed ordered petitioner michael williams writ certiorari appeals eleventh circuit may justice stevens justice breyer joins concurring conclusion statutory provision facially unconstitutional buttressed two interrelated considerations justice scalia finds unnecessary rely first believe result compelled principle every reasonable construction must resorted order save statute unconstitutionality hooper california see also edward debartolo florida gulf coast building constr trades council collecting cases second extent statutory text alone unclear duty avoid constitutional objections makes especially appropriate look beyond text order ascertain intent drafters abundantly clear provision legislative history congress aim target materials advertised promoted presented distributed solicited lascivious purpose intention inciting sexual arousal provision described throughout deliberations houses congress pandering pandering solicitation provision despite fact term pandering appears nowhere statute see cong rec bill criminalizes pandering child pornography creating new crime respond recent ruling ashcroft free speech coalition statement leahy bill cosponsor conf bill includes new pandering provision prohibits advertising promoting presenting distributing soliciting child pornography internal quotation marks omitted creates three new offenses one prohibits pandering solicitation child pornography bill criminalizes pandering child pornography oxford english dictionary defines verb pander minister gratification another lust oxford english dictionary ed black law dictionary provides relevant definition pandering act offense selling distributing textual visual material magazines videotapes openly advertised appeal recipient sexual interest black law dictionary ed hereinafter black consistent dictionary definitions cases explained pandering business purveying textual graphic matter openly advertised appeal erotic interest ginzburg quoting roth backdrop congress crafted provision uphold today context statements surrounding provision enactment convince addition limitations properly concludes constrain reach statute heightened scienter requirements described ante contain element lasciviousness dissent argues statute impermissibly undermines first amendment precedents insofar covers proposals transact constitutionally protected material true proof pornographic obscene representation depict real children place representation protected side line constitutional concerns might arise score surely answered construction gives statute operative provisions proposing transaction material give rise criminal liability statute unless defendant actually believed intended induce another believe material question depicted real children accordingly material protected particularly possesses serious literary artistic political scientific value advertised promoted presented distributed solicited lawful nonlascivious purpose conduct captured statutory prohibition cf miller california petitioner michael williams writ certiorari appeals eleventh circuit may justice souter justice ginsburg joins dissenting dealing obscenity penalized without violating first amendment general matter pornography lacks harm justify prohibiting however photograph take kind image case shows actual minor child pornographic subject transfer even possession may made criminal new york ferber osborne ohio exception general rule rests content picture need foil exploitation child subjects ferber justification limits exception pornographic photographs actual children may prohibited see ashcroft free speech coalition thus six years ago struck statute outlawing particular material merely represented child pornography necessarily depicting actual children prosecutorial remedies tools end exploitation children today act act stat enacted wake free speech coalition act responds avoiding direct prohibition transactions child actual minors may pictured instead prohibits proposals transactions pornography defendant manifestly believes induce belief prospective party subject exchange exhibition actual child impersonated simulated virtual one subject composite created lawful photos spliced together act specifically prohibits three types proposals outlaws solicitation child pornography well two distinct kinds offers advertis ing promot ing prosecutable child pornography recommend material implication speaker make available present ing distribut ing child pornography make material available anyone chooses take supp holds constitutional prohibit proposals point disagree particular accept explanation congress may criminalize proposals unrelated extant image part ways however regulation proposals made regard specific existing representations new law elements pandering offense whether images real children show real children course transaction material prosecuted consistently first amendment believe maintaining first amendment protection expression previously held cover fake child pornography requires limit law criminalization pandering proposals failing confront tension ostensibly protecting material pandered approving prosecution pandering material allowing new pandering prohibition suppress otherwise protected speech undermines ferber free speech coalition reasoning result significant element today holding respectfully dissent easy case applying act proposal obtain supply child pornography supposedly showing real child solicitation offer unrelated image existence pornographic material merely purported see ante statute require actual existence child pornography proposal speaking pornographic photograph child absent disclaimer qualification understood mean photo actual child reasonable assumption people desiring child pornography looking fake child pornography speak mean real thing hence someone seeks obtain child pornography specific artifact mind solicits unlawful transfer contraband side sort proposed transaction someone nothing supply matter purports present distribute advertise promote child pornography also proposes illegal transaction cases activity amount offer traffic child pornography may suppressed first amendment categorically protect offers engage illegal transactions extent speaker intended mislead others conviction also square unprotected status fraud see ante even speaker mistakenly believed obtain forbidden contraband transfer anyone accepted offer validly convicted consistent general rule criminal law attempting commit crime punishable even though completed crime might turn impossible fact see ante easy cases constitutional application act however one gets proposals transactions related extant pornographic objects like photos dealer inventory example fact common cases legislative findings attest see stat congress pass act catch unsuccessful solicitors fraudulent offerors photos sell rather feared mere prospect technology exists create composite depictions indistinguishable depictions real children allow defendants possess images real children escape prosecution threatens render child pornography laws protect real children unenforceable person knowingly proposes transaction extant image incorporates proposal understanding subject proposal includes image cf ante refers recommendation particular piece purported child pornography congress understood underlying proposals image shows child proposal referring actual child picture thus amount proposal commit independent crime transfer child pornography see even actual pictures thus occasion proposals act requires finding actual child shown pornographic setting order prove violation fair assumption apparently made congress instances child pornography question fake picture showing simulation child example adult convincingly passed child cases proposal transaction made criminal absence child model means image constitutionally protected see free speech coalition act irrelevant matters inclusion actual child image validity forbidding transaction proposed counts simply manifest belief intent cause belief true minor shown pornographic depiction referred tension existing constitutional law obvious free speech coalition reaffirmed virtual pornographic images protected fail trigger concern child safety disentitles child pornography first amendment protection see case thus held pictures without real minors simulations adults may subject pornography crime reasonably taken mean transactions pornographic pictures featuring children may punished without proof real children see salcido per curiam free speech coalition held possession child pornography constitute criminal offense result government burden proving beyond reasonable doubt images actual children images cf free speech coalition supra government raises serious constitutional difficulties seeking impose defendant burden proving speech unlawful act however punishes proposals regarding images inclusion actual children established prosecution well images show real children despite fact free speech coalition first proposed transfer punished without proof act meant dispense second made criminal ii justification making independent crimes proposals engage transactions may include protected materials gives three answers none comes grips difficulty raised question first ante says simply wrong say act makes criminal propose lawful transaction since element forbidden proposal must express belief inducement believe subject proposed transaction shows actual children go point objection act criminalizes proposal transaction described virtual protected child pornography point proposals made criminal express belief refer real child pornography relate extant material demonstrated show real children may prohibited proposal covers existing photographs act require requisite belief manifested encouraged reality subjects correct belief prohibited proposals may relate transactions lawful well unlawful pornography much may said second answer proposal commit crime enjoys speech protection ante reason given answer face source difficulty action actually contemplated proposal transfer particular image criminal turns actual child shown photograph ferber free speech coalition good law facts sufficient conviction act suffice show image perhaps merely simulated thus transfer image outside bounds constitutional protection reason enough say first amendment protect proposals commit crimes rule rests assumption proposal actually commit crime act may turn crime general rule unprotected criminal proposals cover case like proposal transfer may turn fake child pornography third answer analogizes proposal attempt commit crime relies rule criminal law attempt criminal even impediment makes impossible complete criminal act possible impediment advanced age say simulated character see ante although actual transfer speaker mind may turn criminal argument goes transfer intended speaker criminal speaker contemplated transfer real child pornography transfer real child pornography criminal fact circumstances believes material depict actual minors defense attempt engage unlawful transaction invoking attempt doctrine dispense free speech coalition requirement circumstances case incoherent act fails fit paradigm factual impossibility qualify extended version rule incoherence answer scheme act appears supp criminalizes attempting conspiring violate act substantive prohibitions including pandering provision treating pandering species attempt thus mean statutory inchoate offense attempting attempt commit substantive child pornography crime metaphysician imagine system like universe inchoate crimes expandable indefinitely actual principles criminal law let alone first amendment protection threatened see lafave substantive criminal law ed certain crime actually defined terms either attempting certain crime argument crime attempting attempt persuasive serious failure attempt analogy however unjustifiable extension classic factual frustration rule action specifically intended criminal act completed intending killer mistakenly grabs pistol loaded blanks committed homicide bullets gun impossibility completing intended act shooting bullets prevented completion crime however proposed transaction identified pornographic image without showing real child matter parties believe matter exactly defendant actions conform intended course conduct completing transaction mind turns reasonable doubt real child used make photos none respectively conviction crime thus classic impossibility example attempt liability course conduct intended completed owing fact defendant mistaken precludes completing intended physical acts reasoning attempt liability even contemplated acts completed exactly intended crime committed attempt liability recognized thus making way proposal liability analogy first response demur example drug dealer sells something else ante package baking powder powder cocaine example one doubts dealer may validly convicted attempted drug sale even know baking powder selling yet selling baking powder criminal selling virtual child pornography response suffice however overlooks difference lawfulness selling baking powder lawful character virtual child pornography powder sales lawful constitutionally privileged justification within bounds rationality suffice limiting baking powder transactions regulating discharge blanks pistol virtual pornography however held fall within first amendment speech privilege thus affirmatively protected merely allowed matter course question stands proposal may turn cover privileged expression subject standard attempt liability next response deals privileged character underlying material gives another example attempt presumably made criminal case mistaken spy passes national security documents thinking classified secret fact declassified made subject public inspection ante publishing unclassified documents subject first amendment privilege claim value fake child pornography assumes document publication may punished attempt violate restrictions assume based mistaken belief underlying material real child pornography looks deterrent value justifies prosecuting mistaken spy like mistaken drug dealer intending killer presumably validate prosecuting make proposals fake child pornography significant differences cases security documents pornography without real children government documents blank cartridges baking powder involved deterrence promoted without compromising important policy true criminalizing mistaken child pornography proposals three dispositive differences first law criminalize proposals transactions fake well true child pornography like attempts sell cocaine turned baking powder constitutional law lose something sufficiently important made multiple holdings line child pornography may suppressed fake child pornography falls within first amendment protection one seriously assume today decision government go prosecuting defendants selling child pornography requiring showing real child pictured free speech coalition prosecute merely proposing pornography transaction manifesting inducing belief photo real child pornography free need demonstrate extant underlying photo show real child act enforced function meant merging whole subject child pornography offense proposing transaction dispensing element underlying subject eliminating need prove real child loss consequence possibly less pornography available owing greater ease prosecuting simply must line government may suppress may segment line gone went great pains draw ferber free speech coalition worth drawing worth respecting facing attempt line provisions act second reason treating child pornography differently follows first deluded drug dealer held liable attempt crime risk eliminating baking powder trade lawful commodities likewise mistaken spy convicted attempting disclose classified national security documents worry lawful speech suppressed consequence unclassified documents question quoted newspaper unclassified documents circulate analysts politics foreign policy able rely act effectively eliminate requirement proposal relates extant material class protected speech disappear true lost short merit intrinsic value reason protecting unpopular expression finally act stands applied identifiable extant pornographic photographs practical terms ferber free speech coalition fall left empty overruled formally case well considered recently decided free speech coalition put aside mere six years good reason another pair first amendment cases come mind compare minersville school dist gobitis west virginia bd ed barnette barnette set reason abrupt turn overruling gobitis three years nothing explained attempts baking powder unclassified documents punished without damage confidence precedent suppressing protected pornography differences dispositive eliminating line protected unprotected speech guaranteeing suppression category expression previously protected reducing recent carefully considered first amendment precedents empty shells heavy prices paid without substantial offset missing case hence answer justification saving act attempt get around holdings hold transaction turns fake pornography better understood incomplete attempt commit crime completed series intended acts simply add crime owing privileged character material parties fact deal upshot absolute rule relationship attempt liability frustrating mistake attempts frustrated mistake punishable mistaken assumptions expressive material unprotected bar liability attempts commit crime legitimacy attempt liability turn consequences protected expression law protects protected category expression inevitably suppressed first amendment safeguard left pointless government burden justify damage free speech iii untethering power suppress proposals extant pornography assessment likely effects proposals might unsettling significance well beyond subject child pornography going grain pervasive first amendment doctrine tolerates speech restriction mere general tendencies expression private understandings speakers listeners critical assessment practical consequences thus one milestones american political liberty brandenburg ohio per curiam seen culmination half century development began justice holmes dissent abrams place rule dominated first world war sedition espionage cases allowing suppression speech tendency intent behind see schenck brandenburg insisted constitutional guarantees free speech free press permit state forbid proscribe advocacy use force law violation except advocacy directed inciting producing imminent lawless action likely incite produce action see also stone perilous times free speech wartime xactly fifty years schenck finally unambiguously embraced version clear present danger brandenburg unmistakably insists limit speech grounded realistic factual assessment harm far cry act us rests criminal prosecution proposing transactions expressive material nothing speaker statement material statement may disclose belief subjects represented desire foster belief another weigh heavily overbreadth balance first amendment freedoms danger government seeks control thought justify laws impermissible end right think beginning freedom speech must protected government speech beginning thought free speech coalition see also hurley gay lesbian bisexual group boston idea noncommercial speech restriction used produce thoughts statements acceptable groups indeed people grates first amendment amounts nothing less proposal limit speech service orthodox expression speech clause certain antithesis iv said pay price enacted act without substantial justification loss find assume sees grounding act however suppose holding explained uncritical acceptance claim made congress forum government argued jury appreciation mere possibility simulated virtual child pornography prevent convictions real thing inevitably raising reasonable doubt whether actual children shown government voices fear skeptical jurors place traffic child pornography beyond effective prosecution unless find way avoid ferber limitation skirt free speech coalition allow prosecution whether pornography shows actual children claim needs taken grain salt never time concern raised long act passed example pornographic photos taken models one day adulthood yet indication prosecution ever crippled need prove models underage still convinced real reason government fear stemming computer simulation willing reexamine ferber conditions change today technology left effective way stop professional amateur pornographers exploiting children fair claim degree expressive protection yield protect children government get free pass whenever claims worthy objective curtailing speech doubts need claimed although congress found child pornography defendants almost universally rais defense alleged child pornography simulated virtual stat neither congress given citation single case defendant acquittal reasonably attributable see brief free speech coalition et al amici curiae brief national law center children families et al amici curiae government thus seems selling short appears highly successful convicting child pornographers overwhelming majority plead guilty rather try luck jury little seems changed since time free speech coalition rejected assertion interest see government says possibility producing images using computer imaging makes difficult prosecute produce pornography using real children necessary solution argument runs prohibit kinds images argument essence protected speech may banned means ban unprotected speech analysis turns first amendment upside thomas concurring judgment time government asserts defendants raise defenses done successfully fact government points case defendant acquitted based images defense without convincing evidence contrary experience tells us faith capacity jury system expected operate much following way act books government sought prosecute proposals extant images attempts seek carry burden showing real children depicted image subject proposal simply introducing image evidence figures picture looked like real children government made prima facie demonstration defense might well offer expert testimony effect technology produce convincing simulations extent testimony came ask whether witness say particular seemingly authentic representation merely simulated witness say said direct survived questioning basis opinion truth acquittal proper defendant raised reasonable doubt whether child victimized standard govern defendant trial abusing child personally defense specific evidence particular image failed show actual children skeptical jury likely entertain reasonable doubt image showed real child perhaps wrong without demonstration juries rendering exploitation children unpunishable excuse cutting back first amendment alternative finding overbreadth act hold unconstitutional authority ferber free speech coalition footnotes williams also challenged sentence possession conviction ground entitled resentencing light decision booker see eleventh circuit rejected challenge therefore affirmed sentence despite reversing pandering conviction see although williams receive reduced sentence result appeal case moot held benton maryland jurisdictional bar consideration challenges multiple convictions even though concurrent sentences imposed section supp reads reproduces child pornography distribution mails interstate foreign commerce means including computer pittsburgh press newspaper argued afford category commercial speech consists ads level first amendment protection noncommercial speech important function replied whatever merits contention may contexts unpersuasive case discrimination employment commercial activity illegal commercial activity doubt newspaper constitutionally forbidden publish want ad proposing sale narcotics soliciting prostitutes import response noncommercial proposals engage illegal activity greater protection commercial proposals footnotes first definition offered act offense recruiting prostitute finding place business prostitute soliciting customers prostitute black explained elsewhere ginzburg long since lost force law see dallas opinion concurring part dissenting part ginzburg decided extended first amendment protection commercial speech withstand decision virginia bd pharmacy virginia citizens consumer council still case explication meaning pandering instructive footnotes use child pornography mean pornographic representation photograph case includes appears child subject true real child pornography refers images made directly pornographic settings models minors fake refers simulations components lawful photos spliced together made adults looking young enough mistaken minors leave largely aside case fraudulent proposals passing virtual pornography real thing fact fraud separate category speech independently lacks first amendment protection changes analysis regard proposals although necessarily dictate conclusion placed limits policing fraud cuts far protected speech see riley national federation blind invalidating professional fundraiser regulation strict scrutiny also relevant analysis act hardly statute congress seems cared little interests purchasers penalties violating act quite onerous compared laws see brief american booksellers foundation free expression et al amici curiae identifying laws punishing fraud misdemeanor civil penalties legitimately question whether unprotected status fraud enables government punish transfer otherwise protected speech penalties apparently disproportionate harm fraud understood cause hearings prior passage act department justice presented congress three examples prosecutions purportedly frustrated defense see hearing subcommittee crime terrorism homeland security house committee judiciary statement daniel collins associate deputy attorney general bunnell wl may allowed defendant withdraw guilty plea ashcroft free speech coalition decision defendant however present defense jury acquitted indeed rejected motion dismiss see criminal docket case docket report also indicates defendant trial continued prosecution state government moving dismiss upon receipt judgment commitment state see ibid reilly cr rpp wl sdny also allowed defendant withdraw guilty plea issuance free speech coalition plea founded belief government need prove involvement actual children material issue time congressional hearings dismissed child pornography charges upon government motion defendant convicted multiple counts transportation obscene material see criminal docket case sdny sims supp nm defendant convicted jury trial government contended agreed bear burden proving images issue depicted actual minors free speech coalition decision came soon afterward defendant filed motion acquittal trial held government bear burden proof met regard one count regard another upon presented evidence use actual children trial acquitted defendant latter count observing government taken cautionary approach presented evidence prove use actual children made strategic decision supp government seek review ruling appeal short cases presented congress involved transition issue occasioned free speech coalition decision none involved jury judge acquittal defendant basis defense government amici identify successful employments defense one amicus says free speech coalition spawned serious prosecutorial problems example gives acquittal defendant partial acquittal ohio bench trial ohio statute judge convicted defendant counts involving images prosecution presented expert testimony minor identity acquitted counts see brief national law center children families et al amici curiae citing state tooley wl state apparently acquittals considering defendant appeal convictions ohio held hearsay objection government expert irrelevant free speech coalition impose heightened evidentiary burden state specifically identify child use expert testimony prove image contains real child ohio rather case trial judge capable reviewing evidence determine whether state met burden showing images depicted real children case hardly bespeaks prosecutorial crisis according department justice bureau justice statistics federal child pornography cases concluded defendants convicted bureau justice statistics bulletin federal prosecution child sex exploitation offenders online http visited may available clerk case file comparison child pornography cases concluded defendants convicted ibid cases ended plea ibid defendants convicted made whose charges dismissed convicted trial ibid statistics suggest crisis ability prosecute child pornography matters concluded attorneys prosecuted declined prosecution disposed magistrate comparison prosecution rate matters concluded attorneys ibid weak evidence make disproportionate part declined prosecutions child pornography cases declined prosecution presented problems weak inadmissible evidence declined lack evidence criminal intent suspects prosecuted charges comparison weak inadmissible evidence accounted declined prosecutions sex abuse sex transportation sexual exploitation crimes easily admit defense ibid none data sure isolates experience free speech coalition current act breaks numbers reference prosecution act generality statistics problem however government makes necessity claim courts appeals consider issue declined require expert evidence prove authenticity images generally finding images sufficient prove depiction actual minors see salcido per curiam collecting cases