Opinion ID: 580788
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Pre-Trial Seizures

Text: 46 Adult Video contends that RICO's section 1963(d) is facially unconstitutional because it permits the pre-trial seizure of videotapes based only on a finding of probable cause to believe they are obscene. 47 The Supreme Court's recent opinion in Fort Wayne Books leaves little room for argument over the unconstitutionality of pre-trial seizures of allegedly obscene materials. Indeed, the government foregoes any such argument here. The Supreme Court held in Fort Wayne Books that pre-trial seizures of allegedly obscene books and films pursuant to Indiana's RICO statute violated the First Amendment. [P]robable cause to believe that there are valid grounds for seizure, the Court explained, is insufficient to interrupt the sale of presumptively protected books and films. 489 U.S. at 66, 109 S.Ct. at 929. 48 This holding translates readily to the federal RICO context. Indeed, the Supreme Court noted that Indiana's RICO statute was similar to the federal racketeering law. Fort Wayne Books, 489 U.S. at 67 n. 13, 109 S.Ct. at 930 n. 13. Federal RICO also permits pre-trial seizures upon a showing of probable cause. Thus the Supreme Court's concern that films not be removed from circulation prior to [a] determination that the seized items [are] 'obscene' or that a RICO violation has occurred  applies with equal vigor in this instance. Id. at 66, 109 S.Ct. at 929 (original emphasis). The First Amendment will not tolerate such seizures until the government's reasons for seizure weather the crucible of an adversary hearing. Id. at 67, 109 S.Ct. at 929 ([W]here the RICO violation claimed is a pattern of racketeering that can be established only by rebutting the presumption that expressive materials are protected by the First Amendment, that presumption is not rebutted until the claimed justification for seizing books or other publications is properly established in an adversary proceeding.) (footnote omitted). 5 49 Because the reasoning of Fort Wayne Books is equally applicable to the federal RICO statute, we hold that the portion of section 1963(d) that authorizes pre-trial seizures is unconstitutional on its face. 6 We therefore reverse on this issue and direct the district court to enter judgment for Adult Video.