U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Ala. Sex Toy Ban Case

LAS VEGAS — Adult shop owner Sherri Williams has told XBIZ that the U.S. Supreme Court will not hear her case challenging Alabama's sex toy ban, ending an almost 10-year fight against the law.

The sale of adult toys is now been deemed officially illegal in the state, she said.

"The next step for me is they'll arrest me and put me in jail," Williams said, adding that each offense could bring her a year of hard labor.

"I guess [it] will be a very long time because I have probably 4,900 offenses in my store,' Williams said.

Williams said that in hopes to avoid being prosecuted to the full extent, she has decided to file another lawsuit challenging the validity of Alabama's ban on the sale of sex toys and will hire a 1st Amendment lawyer to do so.

Alabama law states that adult toys may be sold legally for medical, educational and artistic purposes — not for self-gratification — but the law also states that it is against the law to advertise them.

"How can you sell something you can't advertise?" Williams said.

Now Williams said she will wait to see if the state attorney general will decide to postpone prosecution while her new lawsuit is pending, or put her in jail and require she file the suit in prison.

"Because they gave absolutely no guidance whatsoever when they passed this law," Williams said, "now they have to scramble to figure out how to enforce it, and I don't foresee they'll be able to figure that out in the next 30 days."

Williams said she found out about the court's decision today at 9 a.m. and has called a press conference to relay the news while at the International Lingerie Show in the Rio Suites Hotel.

Williams first challenged the law in 1998, claiming it violated a slew of civil rights, and a year later it was found unconstitutional by a federal trial judge. However, an 11th Circuit panel said Alabama can police the sale of "any device designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs."

A recent decision made by the 11th Circuit panel held that "public morality remains a legitimate rational basis for the challenged legislation," and once again deemed the ban constitutional.

Williams current attorneys, Roger Wilcox and Paul Cambria of New York law firm Lipsitz, Green, Scime, Cambria, were unavailable for comment at press time.

Copyright © 2026 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

Judge Dismisses Last NCOSE-Backed Suit Over Kansas AV Law

A federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit alleging that adult site SuperPorn violated Kansas’ age verification law, citing lack of jurisdiction after similarly dismissing two related cases earlier this year.

Wicked Sensual Care Debuts 'Natural' Lube From 'Simply' Collection

Wicked Sensual Care (WSC) has introduced the new Natural lubricant from its Simply collection.

Playharda Introduces 'Hard Nox' Line

Playharda Wholesale has debuted the Hard Nox collection of pleasure products.

Federal AV Proposal Scores Minor Win in House but Remains in Doubt

A newly announced bipartisan agreement in the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce may soon bring a proposed federal age verification law before the full House, but the measure continues to face an uphill battle.

Nalpac Releases 2026 Summer Catalog

Nalpac has released its 80-page 2026 summer catalog, featuring hundreds of products.

Arizona Governor Vetoes 'Protect Act' With New Consent Provisions

Arizona Governor Kate Hobbs on Friday vetoed HB 2133, the “Protect Act,” which would have imposed new requirements for adult content uploaded online.

Brazil Begins Monitoring 18 Adult Sites for AV Compliance

Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) is now monitoring 18 high-traffic adult websites for compliance with the country’s Digital Statute for Children and Adolescents (Digital ECA), which requires such sites to age-verify users located in Brazil.

Ofcom Fines First Time Videos $100,000 for AV Noncompliance

U.K. media regulator Ofcom on Thursday imposed a fine of 80,000 pounds (more than $100,000) against First Time Videos, which operates FTVGirls.com and FTVMilfs.com, for failing to implement age checks required for compliance with the Online Safety Act.

Kheper Releases 'Intimacy Heart' Massagers

Kheper Games has debuted its new Intimacy Heart Massagers.

Magic Silk Debuts 'Rush' Collection

Magic Silk has introduced its new Rush line of intimate wear.

Show More