Document: 413 U.S. 115 93 S.Ct. 2680 37 L.Ed.2d 492 Murray KAPLAN, Petitioner,v.State of CALIFORNIA. No. 71—1422. Argued Oct. 19, 1972. Decided June 21, 1973. Syllabus Petitioner, a proprietor an 'adult' bookstore, was convicted violating California obscenity statute by selling plain-covered unillustrated book containing repetitively descriptive material explicitly sexual nature. Both sides offered testimony as to the nature and content book, but there no 'expert' that 'utterly without redeeming social importance.' The trial court used state community standard in applying construing statute. appellate court, affirming, held not protected First Amendment. Held: 1. Obscene form is entitled Amendment protection merely because it has pictorial content. A State may control commerce such even distribution consenting adults, avoid deleterious consequences can reasonably conclude (conclusive proof required) result from continuing circulation obscene literature. See Paris Adult Theatre I v. Slaton, 49, 2628, 446. Pp. 118—120. 2. Appraisal 'the contemporary standards California' adequate basis for establishing whether here involved obscene. Miller California, 15, 2607, 419. P. 121. 3. When, this case, itself placed evidence, its allegedly nature, or other ancillary evidence obscenity, constitutionally required. supra, 4. case vacated remanded so determine satisfies constitutional newly enunciated supra. 122. 23 Cal.App.3d Supp. 9, 100 Cal.Rptr. 372, remanded. Stanley Fleishman, Hollywood, Cal., petitioner. Ward Glen McConnell, Los Angeles, respondent. Mr. Chief Justice BURGER delivered opinion Court. 1 We granted certiorari Appellate Department Superior Court County Angeles review petitioner's conviction violation statutes regarding obscenity. 2 Petitioner Peek-A-Boo Bookstore, one approximately 250 bookstores city California.1 On May 14, 1969, responde citizen complaints, undercover police officer entered store began peruse several books magazines. advised 'was library.' then asked petitioner if he had 'any good sexy books.' replied 'all our are sexy' exhibited lewd photograph. At recommendation, after read aloud sample paragraph, purchased Suite 69. sale, jury Penal Code § 311.2,2 misdemeanor. 3 69, plain cover contains pictures. It made up entirely repetitive descriptions physical, conduct, 'clinically' explicit offensive point being nauseous; only most tenuous 'plot.' Almost every conceivable variety contact, homosexual heterosexual, described. Whether samples 5th, 10th, 20th page, beginning at any page random, unvarying. 4 both presented testimony, persons accepted be 'experts,' book. received read, entirety, jury. Each juror inspected But socially value,' 'national standards.' appeal, affirmed conviction. Relying on dissenting opinions Jacobellis Ohio, 378 184, 199, 203, 84 1676, 1686, 12 793 (1964), White's dissent Memoirs Massachusetts, 383 413, 462, 86 975, 999, 16 (1966), concluded 'national' also decided did always have present lacked 'socially that, '(i)n light . circumstances surrounding sale' itself, sufficient sustain Finally, considered argument 'obscene' matter law. Pointing out arguing, part, all were absolute sense, rejected thesis. 'independent review,' 'Suite 69 appeals prurient interest sex beyond customary limits dandor within California.' agree. 5 This squarely presents issue expression words alone legally sense unprotected Amendment.3 When declared Amendment, distinction medium expression. Roth United States, 354 476, 481—485, 77 1304, 1306—1309, 1498 (1957). Obscenity can, course, manifest pictoral representation written oral description conduct. applied similarly conceived moving pictures, photographs, books. Freedman Maryland, 380 51, 57, 85 734, 738, 13 649 (1965); U.S., 187—188, S.Ct., 1677—1678; Times Film Corp. Chicago, 365 43, 46, 81 391, 393, 403 (1961); id., 395. (Warren, C.J., dissenting); Kingsley International Pictures Regents, 360 684, 689—690, 79 1362, 1365—1366, 1512 (1959); Films, Inc. Dept. Education, 346 587, 589, 74 286, 98 L.Ed. 329 (1954) (Douglas, J., concurring); Joseph Burstyn, Wilson, 343 495, 503, 72 777, 781, 96 1098 (1952). 6 Because profound commitment protecting communication ideas, restraint way printed word speech stimulates traditional emotional response, unlike response pictures flagrant human seems different preferred place hierarchy values, should be. generalization, like many, qualified book's As with films, paintings, drawings, engravings, utterance until they collide long-settled position Constitution. 23—25, 2614 2615; 483—485, 1308—1309. 7 For ill, life. passed hand hand, we take note tendency widely circulated category reach impressionable young impact.4 could regard 'hard core' conduct described capable encouraging causing antisocial behavior, especially impact people. States need wait behavioral experts educators provide empirical data before enacting controls materials right privacy. noted power legislative body enact regulatory laws unprovable assumptions. 60—63, 2636—2638. 8 Prior trial, moved dismiss complaint sale sexually oriented adults protected. In connection motion only, prosecution stipulated claim either disseminated minors thrust upon general public. denied motion. Today, Court, 68—69, 2641—2642, reaffirms commercial exposure anyone, including subject regulation. Orito, 139, 141—144, 2674, 2677 2679, 513; 200—Ft. Reels Super 8mm. Film, 123, 128, 2665, 2669, 500; Thirty-Seven Photographs, 402 363, 376, 91 1400, 28 822 (1971) (opinion White, J.); Reidel, 351, 355—356, 1410, 1412, 813 (1971). denial was, therefore, error. 9 tendered into tendered, expert witness, vice squad. testified extensive experience pornographic gave his taken whole, predominantly appealed average person 'applying standards,' went 'substantially candor' California. witness explained specifically how so, purveyor perverted own sake. No under importance,' despite defense contrary. 10 419, today holds "contemporary California," opposed establish work reject 446, behalf prosecution, once evidence. I, 56, 2634 2635. free introduce appropriate see Smith 361 147, 164—165, 80 215, 224—225, 205 (1959) (Frankfurter, concurring), cases which questions since Roth, regarded themselves determination question.' Ginzburg 463, 465, 942, 944, 31 (1966). Groner, 479 F.2d 577, 579—586 (CA5 1973). record prosecution's sufficient, federal law, support conviction.5 11 cade involve statutes. judgment vacated, further proceedings inconsistent opinion, 200-Foot 130 n. 7, 2670 today. Vacated DOUGLAS would vacate remand dismissal criminal found guilty 'obscenity' defined courts too vague satisfy requirements due process. 37, 2622, 419 dissenting). 14 BRENNAN, whom STEWART MARSHALL join, dissenting. 15 reverse my 73, 2642, 47, 2627, number these stores estimated parties argument. These purport bar premises. sold juveniles. Cf. 18—20, 2612, 311.2, time commission alleged offense, relevant part: '(a) Every who knowingly sends causes sent, brings brought, distribution, prepares, publishes, prints, exhibits, distributes, offers distribute, possession intent distribute exhibit offer .' 311, provided follows: 'As chapter: 'Obscene' means person, standards, predominant appeal matter, interest, i.e., shameful morbid nudity, sex, excretion, goes substantially candor matters utterly importance. '(b) 'Matter' magazine, newspaper, picture, drawing, photograph, figure, recording, transcription mechanical, chemical electrical reproduction articles, equipment, machines materials. '(c) 'Person' individual, partnership, firm, association, corporation, legal entity. '(d) 'Distribute' transfer of, consideration. '(e) 'Knowingly' having knowledge obscene.' (1957), That Mishkin New York, 502, 958, 56 very similar books, all, illustrated. 505, 514—515, 961, 966—967. affirmed, equally divided Doubleday & Co., 335 848, 79, 398 (1948). rigorously scrutinized judgments involving possible rights, regularly reversed convictions basis. Childs Oregon, 401 1006, 1248, 542 (1971); Walker 434, 90 1884, 26 385 (1970); Keney 388 440, 87 2091, 18 1302 (1967); Friedman 441, 1303 Sheperd 444, 2093, 1306 Avansino 1308 Corinth Publications, Wesberry, 448, 2096, 1310 Books, 449, 2098, 1311 Quantity Copies Books Kansas, 452, 2104, 1314 Redrup 386 767, 1414, 515 (1966); Tralins Gerstein, 576, 1903, 1033 (1964); Grove Press, 1909, 1035 205, 1723, 809 Marcus Search Warrants, 367 717, 1708, 1127 Brown, 436, 1325, 1469 58 2635 446 (1973); Report Commission Pornography (1970) (Hill-Link Minority Report). introduction adequate, consider pandering wrongly finding Petitioner's additional claims 'theory' 'pandering' subjected retroactive application meritless record.

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