Document: 442 U.S. 319 99 S.Ct. 2319 60 L.Ed.2d 920 LO-JI SALES, INC., Petitioner,v.State of NEW YORK. No. 78-511. Argued April 16, 1979. Decided June 11, Syllabus A New York State Police investigator, after purchasing two films from petitioner's "adult" bookstore and viewing them concluding that they violated state obscenity laws, took the to a Town Justice, who also viewed films. Based on investigator's affidavit, justice issued warrant authorizing search store seizure other copies The affidavit asserted "similar" printed matter portraying similar activities could be found premises requested accompanying investigator in executing so might determine independently if any items at were possessed violation law subject seizure. included recital authorized "[t]he following which Court [on examination] has determined violation" law. However, time signed no listed or described this statement. for arrest clerk having sold investigator. Thereafter, justice, nine enforcement officials entered bookstore, arrested (the only employee present), advised him warrant; conducted lasted nearly six hours, covering various areas store, examined seized numerous films, projectors, magazines. inventoried barracks each item was then by police warrant. Petitioner charged with second degree. trial court denied pretrial motion suppress evidence as been searched First, Fourth, Fourteenth Amendments; petitioner guilty plea. As permitted law, appealed denial suppress, convictions affirmed. Held: 1. Fourth Amendment does not permit action taken here, where, except specification previously purchased did purport particularly describe things but, instead, left it entirely discretion conducting decide what likely obscene accomplish their countenance open-end warrants completed while is being carried out. Pp.325-326. 2. Justice's presence participation ensure would absent probable cause believe obscene; nor his provide an immediate adversary hearing issue. generalized acting neutral detached judicial officer. This procedure Heller v. York, 413 483, 93 2789, 37 745. Here, Justice undertook telescope processes application warrant, issuance its execution. Pp. 326-328. 3. actions involved here cannot justified theory because issue displayed open general public, had legitimate expectation privacy against governmental intrusion warrantless search. Merely retail invites public enter, consent wholesale searches seizures do conform guarantees. sustained ground consented sweeping After under aware presumed authority conduct complying official requests cannot, record, considered voluntary. 328-329. Reversed remanded. Bernard A. Berkman, Cleveland, Ohio, petitioner. Richard L. Parker, Elmira, N. Y., respondent. Mr. Chief BURGER delivered opinion Court. 1 We granted certiorari claims magazines, objects guarantees Amendments. 439 978, 562, 58 649 (1978). 2 * On 20, 1976, reels film so-called bookstore. Upon them, he concluded York's laws. 25, determination whether there reasonable laws justify seller's store. both entirety, apparently obscene. upon subscribed before viewing, exhibited Justice. 3 contained assertion premises, statement affiant's belief accompany execution stated purpose allow agreed. Accordingly, Article 235 Penal Law . ."1 noted earlier, "things seized" purchased. Before going operated 4 enlisted three investigators, uniformed officers, members local prosecutor's office—a total 11 party converged immediately placed He present; free continue working extent permitted, remained mission last hours. 5 began area booths silent shown coin-operated projectors. adjusted machines without coins; disputed volunteered compulsion See infra, 329. 23 minutes and, satisfied obscene, ordered projectors seized. 6 next focused another containing four showing soundless sound five minutes, again paying, along 7 moved books magazines display. encased clear plastic cellophane wrappers officers remove prior examination books. Choosing contain significant amounts written material, spent less than 10 seconds more minute looking through one. When existed, copy reviewed, same An wrote down titles All told, 397 taken. 8 final one sale behind glass enclosed case. announced box opened, picture outside representative showed. Therefore, all film. seized, 431 reels.2 Miscellaneous items, including business records, but concerning raised here. 9 Throughout day, marked cars parked front persons asked show identification names police. Not surprisingly, sales made during period customers potential appreciable becoming presence. completed, where inventoried. Each late night given consisted pages when search, day 16 pages. It clear, therefore, particular description document impoundment articles. formed basis three-count information charging degree law.3 counts based main groups seized: Count I; II; III. trial, denied. plea fined $1,000 each. confession, case.4 Only validity property are us. 12 permits appeal even charge. N.Y. Crim. Proc. § 710.70(2) (McKinney 1971). Pursuant procedure, intermediate appellate district affirmed convictions. timely leave Appeals II 13 followed entry reminiscent writ assistance 18th century intended protect. Marshall Barlow's, Inc., 436 307, 311, 98 1816, 1819, 56 305 (1978); Stanford Texas, 379 476, 481, 85 506, 509, (1965); Marcus Search Warrant, 367 717, 724, 81 1708, 1712, 1127 (1961). Except purchased, "PARTICULARLY DESCRIB[E] THE tHINGS seized." u.s.const., Amdt. 4. conclusory similarly materials such action. Roaden Kentucky, 496, 502, 2796, 2800, 737 (1973); supra, U.S., 485, S.Ct., 511, 732, 1716. Nor open-ended warrants, 14 premises. But sufficient pursue beyond additional specified assuming searching those. And record progressed pursuant authorization limited outset "sample" films; expanded into extensive deemed illegal. we have occasion context "plain view" doctrine applicable. Coolidge Hampshire, 403 443, 465, 91 2022, 2037, 29 564 (1971).5 can reasonably argued incident clerk. Chimel California, 395 752, 89 2034, 685 (1969). III 15 repeatedly said officer "a reliable safeguard improper hurried judgment 'engaged often competitive enterprise ferreting out crime.' Johnson United States, 333 10, 14, 68 367, 369, 92 L.Ed. (1948)." States Chadwick, 433 1, 9, 97 2476, 2482, 53 538 (1977). 450, 2029. contends ensured enabled enjoy manifest neutrality detachment demanded presented 449, need question subjective propriety actions, objective facts erosion whatever posture existed outset. allowed himself become member, leader, essentially operation. Once invalid adjunct believed instructed seize well, leaving officer's discretion. Indeed, yielded completion provision Though validated event, admitted verify inventory prepared evening accurately reflected 17 accept State's contention acted compliance 745 (1973). There, reports judge theater ordinary paying patron; observation entire performance, evidence. There claim single impeded exhibitor's continued pending decision obscenity. Heller's lawfully hearing. rejected held constitutionally permissible long as, request, prompt available "With safeguards, perceive [of sample film] lawful materially increase First protection." Id., 493, 2795. pains point out: 18 "Courts will scrutinize large-scale books, presumptively protected certain requirements Quantity Books [v. Kansas, 378 205, 84 1723, 809 (1964),] (1961),] fully met. 19 "But seizing destroy block distribution exhibition very different bona fide preserving criminal proceeding, prevented continuing film." 491-492, 2794-2795. 20 In contrast, difficult discern "neutral detached" prosecutors executive seizure, indeed thought conducting, ex parte, "prompt" postseizure hearings called Heller, 492, 2794. kind revealed record.6 IV 21 Perhaps anticipating our disposition case, raises advanced opposition petition relied courts. suggestion virtue display intrusion, see Rakas Illinois, 128, 421, 387 (1978), accordingly needed. notion consents Lewis 385 206, 211, 87 424, 427, 312 (1966). customer, payment member required make. Similarly, examining manner containers packaged sale, seeing customer ordinarily them. 22 Any comes too late. Lo-Ji's agent "consent" face "colorably coercion" validate illegal acts Bumper North Carolina, 391 543, 549-550, 88 1788, 1792, 797 (1968). Our society better able tolerate admittedly pornographic return era; violations must dealt within framework constitutional Appellate Term Supreme Ninth Tenth Judicial Districts reversed, case remanded further proceedings inconsistent opinion. 24 235.00 Supp. 1978-1979) definitional section later degree, 235.05. n. 3, infra. brief asserts approximately 474 taken, filed appears number 431. 235.05 defines follows: "A person when, knowing content character, he: "1. Promotes, possesses intent promote, material ." Section states: "4. 'Promote' means manufacture, issue, sell, give, provide, lend, mail, deliver, transfer, transmute, publish, distribute, circulate, disseminate, present, exhibit advertise, offer agree same." charge disorderly selling appeal. Of course, contraband may doctrine. See, e. g., Ker 374 23, 42-43, 83 1623, 1624-1635, 726 (1963). recognized special constraints arguably Amendment, 731-732, 1715-1716, (1961); normally alleged suggest, magistrate," Shadwick Tampa, 407 345, 350, 2119, 2122, 32 783 (1972), loses character merely leaves regular office order make readily wish seek him. For example, itself. just pointed out, control participate

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