To: City Desk, Obituary Writer

Contact: Robert Peters of Morality in Media, 212-870-3222

NEW YORK, Nov. 3 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Morality in Media issued the following statement regarding the passing of Paul J. McGeady, Esq., who served as the organization's General Counsel and Director of its National Obscenity Law Center from 1979 to 2006.

Paul J. McGeady, a decorated Army Air Force veteran of World War II, 1948 graduate of Fordham Law School, member of the New York bar since 1949, member of New York City Mayor Robert Wagner's Citizens Anti-Pornography Commission in 1965, Director of Morality in Media's National Obscenity Law Center from 1979 to 2006, and nationally recognized expert on obscenity and indecency law, died Tuesday.

In New Jersey, his family announced his death was due to a recent fall at his home resulting in a coma and fatal hemorrhaging. He was 86.

Paul McGeady joined the staff of Morality in Media in 1979 as General Counsel and as Director of its National Obscenity Law Center (http://www.moralityinmedia.org/nolc), a clearinghouse of information on obscenity and related law, utilized by prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, legislators and others concerned about the explosive growth of pornography. Under his direction, the Law Center published the National Obscenity Law Reporter, a three-volume treatise on obscenity law, with obscenity cases dating from 1800.

Over the years, Mr. McGeady was invited to present his views in person to many influential leaders, including President Ronald Reagan, Attorney Generals Edwin Meese and John Ashcroft, and FBI Directors William Webster and Robert Mueller. His message was unwavering: obscenity is not protected by the First Amendment and federal and state obscenity laws must be enforced vigorously for the well being of our Nation and communities.

Paul McGeady's hard work, sense of justice, and guidance were instrumental in support of what former Chief Justice Earl Warren described in a 1964 obscenity case as, "the right of the Nation and of the States to maintain a decent society."

He was a member and principal architect of the Report of the Mayor's Citizens Anti-Pornography Commission, having been appointed to the post in 1964 by NYC Mayor Robert Wagner. He wrote the legal sections and legislative recommendations for the Hill-Link Minority Report, which also appeared in the 1970 Final Report of President Johnson's Commission on Obscenity and Pornography. In 1984, at his suggestion, obscenity was added as a predicate crime to the Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization law. In 1986, he testified in Chicago before the Attorney General's Commission on Pornography. He prepared model anti-pornography laws, drafted amendments to anti-pornography laws, and authored amicus curiae briefs in support of these laws.

Paul McGeady was also a champion for enforcement of the broadcast indecency law and a proponent of its application to cable and satellite TV and other media. Robert Peters, President of Morality in Media, said, "It has been my privilege to work with Paul for 20 years. His purpose, diligence, dedication, patience, tenacity, readiness to sacrifice, faithfulness, humility, compassion, integrity and piety were an example to us all."

Bruce Taylor, a former Senior Counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice, said, "Paul assisted me and most prosecutors I knew, which was almost all who did obscenity cases in state and federal courts, at least since the cases started after Miller v. California in 1973. He changed history, and we are the beneficiaries of his contributions to the legal and public debates about obscenity, pornography, and the First Amendment."

Prior to joining Morality in Media full-time in 1979, Paul was Secretary and Counsel for the Continental Insurance Companies in New York City. He also acted as Counsel to the parent, Continental Corporation.

He was a dedicated husband to Margaret V. McGeady for 55 years and father to Peggy M. McGeady, Dr. Rosemary E. McGeady, Esq., and Paul McGeady, PhD of Atlanta. He leaves behind three grandchildren: Randy J. Santmann, Alison E. Seber and Kelsey E. Seber.

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MORALITY IN MEDIA is a nonprofit national organization, with headquarters in New York City, which works to curb traffic in obscenity and to uphold standards of decency in the media.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

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/© 2006 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/

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