Guide Note

The Los Angeles Times revealed on June 11, 2008 that Chief Judge of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Alex Kozinski, who is currently presiding over an obscenity trial, posted sexually explicit material to a personal website. Kozinski said he did not know the site was accessible to the public, and would not consider the materials obscene.

Fast Facts

1. Birth date: July 23, 1950
2. Birth place: Bucharest, Romania
3. Age 12: Moved to United States
4. Married
5. Sons: 3
6. Current position: Chief Judge, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
7. 1985: Named to 9th Circuit
8. 1975: Law degree, University of California Los Angeles
9. 1972: Bachelor's degree, University of California Los Angeles

Kozinski is currently presiding over the obscenity trial of Ira Isaacs, who produced fetish films that show bestiality and defecation. Isaacs claims the films have artistic merit. A jury must decide if the films are obscene.

One photograph on Kozinski's website reportedly showed naked women painted to look like cows. Another set of photos showed a woman shaving her pubic hair. Other photos showed masturbation and exhibitionism. A video showed a naked man in a compromising situation with a farm animal.

In 2001, the federal government had planned to monitor the computers of every federal court employee. Kozinski protested vigorously, and wrote an open letter stating it violated an anti-wiretap statute.