Legal Document

413 U.S. 496 93 Supreme Court Reporter 2796 37 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 757 Harry ROADEN, Petitioner,v.Commonwealth of KENTUCKY. Number 71—1134. Argued Nov. 14, 1972. Decided June 25, 1973. Syllabus A county sheriff viewed a sexually explicit film at local drive-in theater. At the conclusion showing, he arrested petitioner, theater manager, for exhibiting an obscene in violation Kentucky law, and seized, without warrant, one copy use as evidence. There was no prior judicial determination obscenity. Petitioner's motion to suppress evidence on ground illegal seizure denied, convicted. The Appeals affirmed, holding that concededly properly seized incident lawful arrest. Held: by sheriff, authority constitutionally sufficient unreasonable under Fourth Fourteenth Amendment standards. is not simply because it would have been easy secure but rather restraint right expression, whether books or films, calls higher hurdle evaluation reasonableness. Lee Art Theatre versus Virginia, 392 636, 88 2103, 20 1313; Marcus Search Warrants, 367 717, 81 1708, 6 1127. This case does present exigent circumstance which police action must be 'now never' preserve crime, where may reasonable permit approval. Pp. 501—506. 473 South Western Reporter, 2nd 814, reversed remanded. Phillip K. Wicker, Somerset, Ky., petitioner. Robert V. Bullock, Asst. Atty. Gen. Frankfort, respondent. Mr. Chief Justice BURGER delivered opinion Court. 1 question presented this allegedly material, contemporaneous with arrest public exhibition such material commercial theater, accomplished warrant. 2 On September 29, 1970, Pulaski County, Kentucky, accompanied district prosecutor, purchased tickets observed, its entirety, called 'Cindy Donna' concluded state statute. substantial part >>was also observed deputy from vantage point road outside Since petitioner conceded obscenity trial, issue before us decision.1 3 film, proceeded projection booth, manager charge contrary Ky.Rev.Stat. § 436.101 (1973).2 Concurrent arrest, It uncontested: (a) had warrant when made seizure, (b) there officer obscenity, (c) based solely sheriff's observing film. 4 30, day following Grand Jury County heard testimony concerning scenes content returned indictment charging 436.101. October 3, entered plea guilty Circuit Court, set trial. 12, filed dismiss indictment. predicated upon 'improperly, unlawfully illegally . laws land.' Four days later, 16, argument adversary hearing petitioner's motion. denied. 5 trial began 20, 1970. arresting his deputies were only witnesses prosecution. testified films displayed nudity 'intimate love scenes.' further that, viewing determined violated law. He therefore Together itself introduced renewed, again overruled. took stand final 30 minutes Following testimony, jury permitted see Petitioner own behalf. stated knowledge, juveniles admitted received complaints about until sheriff. close found charged. rendered both general verdict special obscene, provided 436.101(8). 7 appeal, affirmed conviction. first emphasized '[i]t [petitioner's] counsel closing obscene. No appeal material.' 815 (1971). then held distinguishing holdings Quantity Copies Books Kansas, 378 205, 84 1723, 12 809 (1964), 1127 (1961), those decisions related materials 'for destruction suppression, seizures possessing, selling, specific item.' S.W.2d, 815. distinguished 1313 (1968), grounds 'had pursuant (defective) search arrest.' 816. relied decision federal three-judge court Hosey City Jackson, 309 F.Supp. 527 (Miss.1970), that: 8 '[S]eizure arrests crime committed presence officers, i.e., showing exceed constitutional bounds absence obscenity.' Id., 533. 9 specifically declined follow another Ledesma Perez, 304 662 (La.1969), unconstitutional hearing.3 10 * proscription against 'unreasonable seizures,' applicable through Amendment, read vacuum. type setting different respect kind material. Cf. Coolidge New Hampshire, 403 443, 471—472, 91 2022, 2040—2041, 29 564 (1971); id., 509—510, S.Ct., 2059—2060 (Black, J., concurring dissenting); 512—513, 2061 (White, dissenting). resolved standards and, if so, inadmissible instruments pistol knife, 'contraband stolen goods objects dangerous themselves,' 472, 2041, are quantities movie appraises reasonableness 11 supra, could issued conclusory sought Such lacked safeguards demanded 'to assure nonobscene protection entitled. (T)he warrants strength assertions single officer, any scrutiny judge considered complainant obscene.' U.S., 731—732, 1716. 'no step procedure designed focus searchingly 732, sense reaffirmed 'massive seizure' bookstore purpose destroying contraband. result premised lack did find necessary reach claim 210 n. 2, 1725. However, emphasized: 13 'It answer say contraband, consequently governing searches should differ applied narcotics, gambling paraphernalia other We rejected proposition Marcus.' 211—212, 1726. 14 same effect regard regularly open public. basis officer's affidavit giving titles asserting fashion personally them into criminal exhibitor. Conviction ensued. review, '(t)he admission requires reversal conviction' 15 inquiry justice peace factual conclusions 'designed obscenity,' 1716, fell short requirements demanding sensitivity freedom expression.' 637, 2104. 16 mention brief per curiam Books. 17 common thread Marcus, Books, nature they taken. See Stanford Texas, 379 476, 486, 85 506, 512, 431 (1965).4 In each arguably within First protection, taking brought abrupt halt orderly presumptively legitimate distribution exhibition. Seizing being exhibited presents essentially expression all bookstore. precipitate plainly form is, circumstances, unreasonable, invokes we examine what 'unreasonable' light values expression.5 As supra: 18 'In short, requirement particularly describe 'things seized' accorded most scrupulous exactitude 'things' books, their ideas contain. 1127; 809. less standard faithful freedoms. impossibility leaving freedoms whim officers charged executing dramatically underscored saw fit seize case.' 485, 511 (footnotes omitted). 19 Moreover, ordinary human experience teach scheduled performances, played replayed paid audiences, very situation contraband changing hands robbery assault perpetrated. latter settings, probable cause might justify weapons, Chimel California, 395 752, 764, 89 2034, 2040, 23 685 (1969); 773—774, 2045—2046 Preston States, 376 364, 367, 881, 883, 777 (1964). Where circumstances literally withou evaluation.6 Chambers Maroney, 399 42, 47—51, 90 1975, 1979—1981, 26 419 (1970). Carroll 267 132, 45 280, 69 L.Ed. 543 (1925). facts surrounding seizures' Theatre, circumstances. II performances obscene; Nothing afforded magistrate opportunity 'focus Heller York, 488—489, 2792—2793; 21 If, held, seizing mere allegations fortiori, make all. 'The government power adjunct system suppression objectionable publications new. Bill Rights fashioned background knowledge unrestricted instrument stifling liberty 724, 729, 1712, 1715. case, 22 judgment remanded proceedings inconsistent opinion. Reversed 24 BRENNAN, whom STEWART MARSHALL join, judgment. 25 granted certiorari consider Constitution require reels 814 statute prosecution brought* my view, unconstitutionally overbroad invalid face. dissent Paris Adult & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions Slaton, 49, 73, 2628, 2642, 446 (1973). reverse remand dissenting Slaton. lawyer statement during arguments: 'I good enough tell you outset behfalf Roaden, am going get up here defend yesterday nor revolting try argue persuade scene[s] App. 37. Revised Statutes (1973) reads relevant follows: 'Obscene matter, distribution, penalties, destruction. '(1) used section: '(a) 'Distribute' means transfer possession of, consideration. '(b) 'Matter' book, magazine, newspaper, printed written picture, drawing, photograph, pictorial representation statue figure, recording, transcription mechanical, chemical electrical reproduction articles, equipment, machines materials. '(c) 'Obscene' average person, applying contemporary standards, predominant taken whole, prurient interest, shameful morbid interest nudity, sex, excretion, goes substantially beyond customary limits candor description matters. '(d) 'Person' individual, partnership, firm, association, corporation, legal entity. '(2) Any person who, having thereof, sends causes sent, brings brought, sale prepares, publishes, prints, exhibits, distributes, offers distribute, has intent distribute exhibit offer matter punishable fine more than $1,000 plus five dollars ($5.00) additional unit coming provisions chapter, involved offense, ten thousand ($10,000), imprisonment jail six (6) months (1) basic maximum 360 jail, imprisonment. If previously convicted subsection, $2,000 $25,000, year, twice section, subsection penitentiary exceeding (5) years. '(8) jury, court, waived, shall render verdict, named findings be: 'We (title matter) obscene,' or, item '(9) Upon conviction accused, may, becomes final, order advertisement, whereof accused stands convicted, remains control attorney general, commonwealth's attorney, city authorized assistants, law enforcement agency, destroyed, destroyed control.' vacated (SD Miss.1970), Court's policy noninterference prosecution; merits. 401 987, 1221, 28 525 (ED La.1969), adjudications courts. Perez Ledesma, 82, 674, 27 701 acknowledged difference between cases whiskey. mean proceeding needed since ex parte. 483, 2789, 745. Counsel together York 493, 2795, amicus curiae Heller, difficult unless kept custody. take notice compact, destroy remove jurisdiction, subject pretrial alterations cutting out secenes resplicing reels. ibid. But, demonstrates, public, procuring need risk loss 436.101(2) provides 'Any ..'

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