Virginia law allows citizens, attorneys, or local officials to initiate proceedings against books suspected of being obscene. The process involves filing a petition, court examination, and publication of an order to show cause. If the court finds probable cause, a hearing is scheduled to determine if the book is obscene.
Any citizen, the attorney for the Commonwealth, or a city attorney can initiate a proceeding if they have reasonable cause to believe the book is obscene.
The court first examines the book, then decides if there is probable cause. If so, an order to show cause is issued, published, and served to interested parties for a hearing.
It is published once a week for two weeks in a local newspaper and served by registered mail to the author, publisher, and interested parties if their addresses are known.
The petition is dismissed, and no further action is taken against the book.