Justice Department Seeks Extension of Time to File 1st Brief in 2257 Appeal (XBIZ)

Read the full article by Rhett Pardon at XBIZ.com

PHILADELPHIA — The Justice Department has filed a motion for a 37-day extension of time to deliver its first brief in its appeal over a judge’s final judgment and decree involving federal rules for adult-producer recordkeeping.

The Free Speech Coalition, which also has challenged the judgment and decree, has consented to the proposed extension.

The Justice Department’s first-step brief, originally due Wednesday, Nov. 28, would be due on Jan. 4 under the proposal.

The appeal and cross-appeal stem from a decision made in August by U.S. District Judge Baylson in Philadelphia.

In his latest ruling over the regs, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2257 and 2257A, Baylson found that large parts of the recordkeeping regulations were unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds. An earlier FSC victory against the regulations on Fourth Amendment grounds came from a 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling.

Baylson made his decision on the judgment and decree on the basis of evidence presented during an eight-day bench trial held in 2012, together with some subsequent additional declarations. The case has been in courtrooms for the past nine years.