No more messing around: Substantive due process challenges to state laws prohibiting fornication

Wisconsin Law Review

Volumn 73, Issue 3, 1998, Pages 767-

  Stratton, Traci Shallbetter ^a  

^a NONE

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EID: 0346934155     PISSN: 0043650X     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Article

References (8)

1. Although statutory definitions vary slightly, fornication is the act of sexual intercourse between persons who are not married to each other. See Gerhard O.W. Mueller, Legal Regulation of Sexual Conduct 46 (1961).
2. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-1002 (1996); Ga. Code Ann. § 16-6-18 (1996); Idaho Code § 18-6603 (1997); 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/11-8 (West 1993); Mass. Ann. Laws. ch. 272, § 18 (Law. Co-op. Supp. 1992); Minn. Stat. Ann. § 609.34 (West 1987); Miss. Code Ann. § 97-29-1 (1994); N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-184 (1993); N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-20.08 (1985); S.C. Code Ann. § 16-15-60 (Law Co-op. 1985); Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-104 (1995); Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-344 (Michie 1996); W. Va. Code § 61-8-3 (1997); Wis. Stat. Ann. § 944.15 (West 1996); see Richard A. Posner & Katharine B. Silbaugh, A Guide to America's Sex Laws 98-102 (1996) (listing enactment dates of state fornication statutes, ranging from as early as 1692 (Massachusetts) to as late as 1973 (North Dakota)). Additionally, at least four states that do not expressly prohibit fornication have outlawed cohabitation. See Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-1409 (West 1989); Fla. Stat. Ann. § 798.02 (West 1992); Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 750.335 (West 1991); N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-10-2 (Michie 1994). It is also a federal offense to knowingly transport or persuade an individual to travel in interstate or foreign commerce with the intent that such individual engage in criminal sexual activity. 18 U.S.C.A. §§ 2421-2422 (West Supp. 1998). See generally Posner & Silbaugh, supra (providing state-by-state review of fornication and cohabitation laws, including enactment dates).
3. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-1002 (1996); Ga. Code Ann. § 16-6-18 (1996); Idaho Code § 18-6603 (1997); 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/11-8 (West 1993); Mass. Ann. Laws. ch. 272, § 18 (Law. Co-op. Supp. 1992); Minn. Stat. Ann. § 609.34 (West 1987); Miss. Code Ann. § 97-29-1 (1994); N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-184 (1993); N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-20.08 (1985); S.C. Code Ann. § 16-15-60 (Law Co-op. 1985); Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-104 (1995); Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-344 (Michie 1996); W. Va. Code § 61-8-3 (1997); Wis. Stat. Ann. § 944.15 (West 1996); see Richard A. Posner & Katharine B. Silbaugh, A Guide to America's Sex Laws 98-102 (1996) (listing enactment dates of state fornication statutes, ranging from as early as 1692 (Massachusetts) to as late as 1973 (North Dakota)). Additionally, at least four states that do not expressly prohibit fornication have outlawed cohabitation. See Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-1409 (West 1989); Fla. Stat. Ann. § 798.02 (West 1992); Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 750.335 (West 1991); N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-10-2 (Michie 1994). It is also a federal offense to knowingly transport or persuade an individual to travel in interstate or foreign commerce with the intent that such individual engage in criminal sexual activity. 18 U.S.C.A. §§ 2421-2422 (West Supp. 1998). See generally Posner & Silbaugh, supra (providing state-by-state review of fornication and cohabitation laws, including enactment dates).
4. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-1002 (1996); Ga. Code Ann. § 16-6-18 (1996); Idaho Code § 18-6603 (1997); 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/11-8 (West 1993); Mass. Ann. Laws. ch. 272, § 18 (Law. Co-op. Supp. 1992); Minn. Stat. Ann. § 609.34 (West 1987); Miss. Code Ann. § 97-29-1 (1994); N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-184 (1993); N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-20.08 (1985); S.C. Code Ann. § 16-15-60 (Law Co-op. 1985); Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-104 (1995); Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-344 (Michie 1996); W. Va. Code § 61-8-3 (1997); Wis. Stat. Ann. § 944.15 (West 1996); see Richard A. Posner & Katharine B. Silbaugh, A Guide to America's Sex Laws 98-102 (1996) (listing enactment dates of state fornication statutes, ranging from as early as 1692 (Massachusetts) to as late as 1973 (North Dakota)). Additionally, at least four states that do not expressly prohibit fornication have outlawed cohabitation. See Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-1409 (West 1989); Fla. Stat. Ann. § 798.02 (West 1992); Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 750.335 (West 1991); N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-10-2 (Michie 1994). It is also a federal offense to knowingly transport or persuade an individual to travel in interstate or foreign commerce with the intent that such individual engage in criminal sexual activity. 18 U.S.C.A. §§ 2421-2422 (West Supp. 1998). See generally Posner & Silbaugh, supra (providing state-by-state review of fornication and cohabitation laws, including enactment dates).
5. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-1002 (1996); Ga. Code Ann. § 16-6-18 (1996); Idaho Code § 18-6603 (1997); 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/11-8 (West 1993); Mass. Ann. Laws. ch. 272, § 18 (Law. Co-op. Supp. 1992); Minn. Stat. Ann. § 609.34 (West 1987); Miss. Code Ann. § 97-29-1 (1994); N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-184 (1993); N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-20.08 (1985); S.C. Code Ann. § 16-15-60 (Law Co-op. 1985); Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-104 (1995); Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-344 (Michie 1996); W. Va. Code § 61-8-3 (1997); Wis. Stat. Ann. § 944.15 (West 1996); see Richard A. Posner & Katharine B. Silbaugh, A Guide to America's Sex Laws 98-102 (1996) (listing enactment dates of state fornication statutes, ranging from as early as 1692 (Massachusetts) to as late as 1973 (North Dakota)). Additionally, at least four states that do not expressly prohibit fornication have outlawed cohabitation. See Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-1409 (West 1989); Fla. Stat. Ann. § 798.02 (West 1992); Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 750.335 (West 1991); N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-10-2 (Michie 1994). It is also a federal offense to knowingly transport or persuade an individual to travel in interstate or foreign commerce with the intent that such individual engage in criminal sexual activity. 18 U.S.C.A. §§ 2421-2422 (West Supp. 1998). See generally Posner & Silbaugh, supra (providing state-by-state review of fornication and cohabitation laws, including enactment dates).
6. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-1002 (1996); Ga. Code Ann. § 16-6-18 (1996); Idaho Code § 18-6603 (1997); 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/11-8 (West 1993); Mass. Ann. Laws. ch. 272, § 18 (Law. Co-op. Supp. 1992); Minn. Stat. Ann. § 609.34 (West 1987); Miss. Code Ann. § 97-29-1 (1994); N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-184 (1993); N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-20.08 (1985); S.C. Code Ann. § 16-15-60 (Law Co-op. 1985); Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-104 (1995); Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-344 (Michie 1996); W. Va. Code § 61-8-3 (1997); Wis. Stat. Ann. § 944.15 (West 1996); see Richard A. Posner & Katharine B. Silbaugh, A Guide to America's Sex Laws 98-102 (1996) (listing enactment dates of state fornication statutes, ranging from as early as 1692 (Massachusetts) to as late as 1973 (North Dakota)). Additionally, at least four states that do not expressly prohibit fornication have outlawed cohabitation. See Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-1409 (West 1989); Fla. Stat. Ann. § 798.02 (West 1992); Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 750.335 (West 1991); N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-10-2 (Michie 1994). It is also a federal offense to knowingly transport or persuade an individual to travel in interstate or foreign commerce with the intent that such individual engage in criminal sexual activity. 18 U.S.C.A. §§ 2421-2422 (West Supp. 1998). See generally Posner & Silbaugh, supra (providing state-by-state review of fornication and cohabitation laws, including enactment dates).
7. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-1002 (1996); Ga. Code Ann. § 16-6-18 (1996); Idaho Code § 18-6603 (1997); 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/11-8 (West 1993); Mass. Ann. Laws. ch. 272, § 18 (Law. Co-op. Supp. 1992); Minn. Stat. Ann. § 609.34 (West 1987); Miss. Code Ann. § 97-29-1 (1994); N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-184 (1993); N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-20.08 (1985); S.C. Code Ann. § 16-15-60 (Law Co-op. 1985); Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-104 (1995); Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-344 (Michie 1996); W. Va. Code § 61-8-3 (1997); Wis. Stat. Ann. § 944.15 (West 1996); see Richard A. Posner & Katharine B. Silbaugh, A Guide to America's Sex Laws 98-102 (1996) (listing enactment dates of state fornication statutes, ranging from as early as 1692 (Massachusetts) to as late as 1973 (North Dakota)). Additionally, at least four states that do not expressly prohibit fornication have outlawed cohabitation. See Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-1409 (West 1989); Fla. Stat. Ann. § 798.02 (West 1992); Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 750.335 (West 1991); N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-10-2 (Michie 1994). It is also a federal offense to knowingly transport or persuade an individual to travel in interstate or foreign commerce with the intent that such individual engage in criminal sexual activity. 18 U.S.C.A. §§ 2421-2422 (West Supp. 1998). See generally Posner & Silbaugh, supra (providing state-by-state review of fornication and cohabitation laws, including enactment dates).
8. Richard Green, Fornication: Common Law Legacy and American Sexual Privacy, 17 Anglo-Am. L. Rev. 226, 228 (1988).