The Courts: Tropic of Illinois

THE COURTS Tropic of Illinois Having “carefully and delicately” read Henry Miller’s Tropic of Cancer, the Illinois Supreme Court last month declared the book obscene —”a series of revolting sexual encounters described in the most filthy and obscene language imaginable.” The court also gave the back of its hand to Nightclub Comedian Lenny Bruce, upholding an obscenity charge on the grounds of his “morbid interest in sex.” Last week the court said oops, and in a rare move withdrew both opinions. Reason: the U.S. Supreme Court had meanwhile reversed a Florida ban against Tropic and narrowed its view of what constitutes obscenity (TIME, July 10). So like all good judges, whatever their personal opinion, those in Illinois followed the nation’s legal leaders.