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§ 6330.Obscene prints and articles; jurisdiction.

Article 63. Injunction · Last amended 1980 · Last verified July 21, 2026

In one sentenceCPLR 6330 gives the supreme court jurisdiction to enjoin the sale, distribution, or possession of obscene material at the request of a district attorney or local chief legal officer, with an expedited trial schedule and seizure of the enjoined material.

Full Text of CPLR 6330

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The supreme court has jurisdiction to enjoin the sale or distribution of obscene prints and articles, as hereinafter specified:
1. The district attorney of any county, the chief executive officer of any city, town or village or the corporation counsel, or if there be none, the chief legal officer of any city, town, or village, in which a person, firm or corporation publishes, sells or distributes or displays or is about to sell or distribute or display or has in his possession with intent to sell or display or distribute or is about to acquire possession with intent to sell, display or distribute any book, magazine, pamphlet, comic book, story paper, writing, paper, picture, motion picture, drawing, photograph, figure, image or any written or printed matter of an indecent character, which is obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, indecent or disgusting, or which contains an article or instrument of indecent or immoral use or purports to be for indecent or immoral use or purpose; or in any other respect defined in section 235.00 of the penal law, may maintain an action for an injunction against such person, firm or corporation in the supreme court to prevent the sale or further sale or the distribution or further distribution or the acquisition, publication or possession within the state of any book, magazine, pamphlet, comic book, story paper, writing, paper, picture, motion picture, drawing, photograph, figure or image or any written or printed matter of an indecent character, herein described or described in section 235.00 of the penal law.
2. The person, firm or corporation sought to be enjoined shall be entitled to a trial of the issues within one day after joinder of issue and a decision shall be rendered by the court within two days of the conclusion of the trial.
3. In the event that a final order or judgment of injunction be entered in favor of such officer of the city, town or village and against the person, firm or corporation sought to be enjoined, such final order of judgment shall contain a provision directing the person, firm or corporation to surrender to such peace officer, acting pursuant to his special duties, or police officer, as the court may direct or to the sheriff of the county in which the action was brought any of the matter described in paragraph one hereof and such officer or sheriff shall be directed to seize and destroy the same.
4. In any action brought as herein provided such officer of the city, town or village shall not be required to file any undertaking before the issuance of an injunction order provided for in paragraph two hereof, shall not be liable for costs and shall not be liable for damages sustained by reason of the injunction order in cases where judgment is rendered in favor of the person, firm or corporation sought to be enjoined.
5. Every person, firm or corporation who sells, distributes, or acquires possession with intent to sell or distribute any of the matter described in paragraph one hereof, after the service upon him of a summons and complaint in an action brought by such officer of any county, city, town or village pursuant to this section is chargeable with knowledge of the contents thereof.
6. The court, in its adjudication, may (1) grant the relief sought (2) deny the relief sought or (3) enjoin the sale, further sale, display, distribution, further distribution, acquisition, publication, or possession of the material, to persons under the age of seventeen, upon a finding that the material is of the kind described in paragraph a or b of subdivision one of section 235.21 of the penal law.

Plain-English Summary

CPLR 6330 hands the supreme court authority to enjoin the sale or distribution of obscene prints and articles, and names who can bring that action: the district attorney of any county, or the chief executive officer or corporation counsel, or, absent one, the chief legal officer, of a city, town, or village where the targeted books, pictures, films, or other described material is being sold, distributed, displayed, possessed with intent to sell, or acquired with that intent, whether the material meets the description in the section itself or the obscenity definition in Penal Law section 235.00.

The section sets a fast track for the case: the party sought to be enjoined is entitled to trial within one day after issue is joined, and the court must decide within two days after trial concludes. If the court enters a final injunction, the order must direct the enjoined party to surrender the material to a designated peace officer, police officer, or the county sheriff, who must then seize and destroy it. Once served with a summons and complaint in such an action, a person is charged with knowledge of the contents of the material at issue going forward.

The officer bringing the action gets procedural protection not available to an ordinary plaintiff: no undertaking is required before the injunction issues, and the officer faces no liability for costs or damages even if the court ultimately rules for the party sought to be enjoined. On the merits, the court may grant the relief sought, deny it, or take a narrower path, enjoining the sale, display, distribution, or possession of the material only as to persons under seventeen where the material meets the description in Penal Law section 235.21.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can bring an obscenity injunction action under CPLR 6330?

A county district attorney, or a city, town, or village's chief executive officer or corporation counsel (or chief legal officer where there is no corporation counsel).

How quickly is a case under CPLR 6330 tried?

The section requires a trial within one day after issue is joined and a decision within two days after the trial concludes.

What happens to the material if the injunction is granted?

The final order directs the enjoined party to surrender it to a designated officer or the sheriff, who must seize and destroy it.

Does the government official have to post a bond to bring this kind of injunction action?

No. CPLR 6330 exempts the officer from the undertaking requirement and from liability for costs or damages, even if the case is ultimately decided against the officer.

Can a court issue a narrower order limited to protecting minors?

Yes. CPLR 6330 lets the court enjoin sale, display, distribution, or possession only as to persons under seventeen where the material fits the description in Penal Law section 235.21.

Amendment History

Add, L 1971, ch 545, § 8, eff Sept 1, 1971, deriving from Crim Code § 22–a; amd, L 1972, ch 826, eff Aug 31, 1972; L 1980, ch 843, § 207, eff Sept 1, 1980.

Source & verification. Provision text, History, and Advisory Committee Notes are reproduced verbatim from the Consolidated Laws of New York. Last verified July 21, 2026. · Official source
Also known as: obscenity injunction New Yorkenjoin sale of obscene material New Yorkobscene prints injunction CPLR