Martha's Vineyard Case: Judge Nixes Questions About Anti-Porn Prejudice

Martha's Vineyard Case: Judge Nixes Questions About Anti-Porn Prejudice

BOSTON — A Massachusetts judge presiding over the trial involving a Martha's Vineyard landlord who is suing Mile High Media and several associates for a 2014 incident involving artwork in her rental property — which she claimed could be seen onscreen in several adult videos — rejected the defense’s proposed questions for potential jurors about prejudicial views and attitudes about pornography.

During a hearing yesterday, U.S. District Judge Patti B. Saris told counsel that she “will not be asking people whether they watch pornography and ask them to say that under oath.”

According to legal news site Law360, the proposed questions “also would have asked jurors whether they have negative views of gay or transsexual pornography, or whether they think pornography is illegal, a danger to the community or ‘generally leads to the degradation of the morals of the individuals involved in the industry and/or society as a whole.’”

Additional jury selection questions proposed by the defense also reportedly included, "By a show of hands, how many of you have ever watched a pornographic movie?" and "By a show of hands, have any of you or close family members ever been involved in the making of pornography?"

Gary Jay Kaufman of the Kaufman Law Group, which represents Mile High, argued that “clearly in this case there are sensitive issues, gay rights issues, gay versus straight pornography, pornography in general — these are not things I love talking about.”

Law360 reports that Judge Saris cut him off at that point and, raising her voice, declared, "I can't ask people if they are gay or ask them their views on transsexual sex. You can't ask that of people!"

Judge Saris instead offered to alert jurors "that the case would involve issues of pornography that will involve gay or transsexual sex," followed by, "Is there anyone here who would not be able to be fair and impartial?"

Kaufman, Law360 continued, “likened the questions to asking prospective jurors in a sexual assault case whether they or anyone they know had been a victim of a similar assault, but the judge was not persuaded.”

Judge Saris replied that she “can't put people under oath and say, ‘Do you watch porn?’”

For XBIZ’s ongoing coverage of the "Martha’s Vineyard Background Art" case, click here.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Tiffani Time Makes Her WIFEY Debut

Newly crowned XMA Creator Awards Rising Clip Creator Tiffani Time stars with her husband Benfit and Jax Slayher in the latest release from Vixen Media Group studio imprint WIFEY.

Karmen Karma Stars in Latest From Ricky's Room

Karmen Karma stars in the latest release from Ricky's Room, titled "A Long Time Cumming."

FSC Publishes Analysis of Federal Trade Commission Event Promoting AV

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published an analysis of a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) event held this week that promoted age verification among other forms of speech regulation.

Cubbi Thompson Makes Her Jules Jordan Debut

Cubbi Thompson has made her Jules Jordan debut alongside Lexington Steele in the studio's latest release.

Seth Gamble Drops Trailer for Upcoming Feature 'Once Upon a Time in the Valley'

Multi-XMAs winner Seth Gamble has released the trailer for his upcoming Wicked Pictures feature, "Once Upon a Time in the Valley."

Ryan Reid Stars in Latest From Brazzers

Ryan Reid stars with Damon Dice in “A Day in the Life,” from Brazzers.

Andylynn Payne Toplines Joey Silvera's 'Trans-Active 30'

Andylynn Payne headlines director Joey Silvera’s “Trans-Active 30” from Evil Angel.

Violet Myers, Megan Faith Star in Latest From Slayed

Reigning XMAs Premium Social Creator of the Year Violet Myers stars with Megan Faith in the latest release from Vixen Media Group studio imprint Slayed.

Coco Bae Returns to Brazzers

Coco Bae stars with Danny D. in the latest release from Brazzers, titled “The Cock Collector.”

GirlsDoPorn Owner Michael Pratt Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking

Michael Pratt, former owner of the rogue website GirlsDoPorn, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on Thursday to sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking charges, according to a report by City News Service.

Show More