Legal Document

383 U.S. 502 86 Supreme Court Reporter 958 16 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 56 Edward MISHKIN, Appellant,v.STATE OF NEW YORK. Number 49. Argued Dec. 7, 1965. Decided March 21, 1966. Rehearing Denied May 2, See 384 934, 1440. Emanuel Redfield, New York City, for appellant. or Haw. Hawai‘i KFH45 A2 Richard Uviller, appellee. Mr. Justice BRENNAN delivered the opinion of Court. 1 This case, like Ginzburg versus States, 463, 942, also decided today, involves convictions under a criminal obscenity statute. A panel three judges Special Sessions City found appellant guilty violating § 1141 Penal Law1 by hiring others to prepare obscene books, publishing and possessing books with intent sell them.2 26 Misc.2d 152, 207 N.Y.S.2d 390 (1960). He was sentenced prison terms aggregating years ordered pay $12,000 in fines these crimes.3 The Appellate Division, First Department, affirmed those convictions. 17 A.D.2d 243, 234 342 (1962). Appeals without opinion. 15 N.Y.2d 671, 255 881, 204 North Eastern Reporter, 2nd 209 (1964), remittitur amended, 724, 256 936, 205 201 (1965). We noted probable jurisdiction. 380 960, 85 1103, 14 15i. affirm. 2 Appellant not prosecuted anything he said believed, but what did, his dominant role several enterprises engaged producing selling allegedly books. Fifty are involved this case. They portray sexuality many guises. Some depict relatively normal heterosexual relations, more such deviations as sadomasochism, fetishism, homosexuality. Many have covers drawings scantly clad women being whipped, beaten, tortured, abused. Many, if most, photo-offsets typewritten written illustrated authors artists according detailed instructions given Typical appellant's that related one author who testified insisted be 'full sex scenes lesbian * *. (T)he had very strong, it rough, clearly spelled out. & N Immigration Nationality Decisions write bluntly, make strong. unusual between men women, men. (H)e wanted which were making love there scenes. didn't call lesbian, described men, spankings scenes—sex an abnormal irregular fashion.' Another instructed him 'to deal graphically darkening flesh flagellation *.' Artists similar vein regarding illustrations 3 All cheaply prepared paperbound 'pulps' imprinted sales prices thousand percent above costs. printed photo-offset printer paid 40¢ 15¢ per copy, depending on whether 'thick' 'thin' book. use name publisher print some fictitious each book, 'make up any address.' stored printer's premises part rent storage space. filled orders at direction, delivering them retail store, Publishers' Outlet, and, occasion, shipping other places. authors, artists, cash their services, usually bookstore. I. 4 attacks invalid its face, contending exceeds Amendment limitations proscribing publications merely sadistic masochistic, 'sadistic' 'masochistic' impermissibly vague, term 'obscene' is vague. need decide merits first two contentions, courts held case 'masochistic,' well adjectives used describe proscribed 'synonymous 'obscene." Misc.2d, 154, N.Y.S.2d, 393. contention vague fails our holding Roth 354 476, 491—492, 77 1304, 1312, 1498. Indeed, definition adopted interpreting delimits narrower class conduct than delimited definition, People Richmond County News, Inc., 9 578, 586—587, 216 369, 175 681, 685—686 (1961),4 thus 1141, statutes Roth, provides reasonably ascertainable standards guilt.5 5 objects applied, first, because convicted publishing, prepare, sale obscene, second, proof scienter inadequate. 6 1. Nature Material.—The prohibits prosecution publication dissemination do satisfy obscenity. free adopt definitions only extent stay within bounds set constitutional criteria restrict regulation traditionally universally tolerated society. 7 interpreted cover so-called 'hard-core pornography,' see (1961), quoted note 4, supra. Since stringent judgment satisfied implicit application below. sole nature material prosecution,6 depicting various deviant sexual practices, flagellation, lesbianism, prurient-appeal requirement they appeal prurient interest 'average person' sex, 'instead stimulating erotic, disgust sicken.' reject argument founded unrealistic interpretation requirement. 8 Where designed primarily disseminated defined group, rather public large, test theme taken whole appeals members group. reference 'average' 'normal' person U.S., 489—490, S.Ct., 1311, does foreclose holding.7 In regard requirement, concept employed serve essentially negative purpose expressing rejection aspect Hicklin test, Regina Hicklin, (1868) L.R. Q.B. 360, made impact most susceptible determinative. adjust social realities permitting type assessed interests intended recipient group; since requires group specificity sexually immature persons,8 avoids inadequacy most-susceptible-person facet test. No substantial claim practices devoid groups. evidence fully establishes specifically conceived marketed expressly induce purchase persons would probably stimulated them. It reason 'wanted emphasis beatings fetishism clothing—irregular clothing, sort thing, again women; always strong.' And certain fulfilled purpose, furnished source materials Caprio, Variations Sexual Behavior, Krafft-Ebing, Psychopathia Sexualis. Not books' appeal, compare Klaw, 350 Federal 155 (C.A.2d Cir. 1965), compelling; addition own evaluation confirms finding. 942. 10 2. Scienter.—In Finkelstein, 342, 344—345, 214 363, 364, 174 470, 471 authoritatively require 'vital element scienter,' required mental terms: 11 'A reading statute (§ 1141) indicates manner aware character attempt distribute should punished. innocent calculated purveyance filth exorcised *.'9 (Emphasis added.) 12 Appellant's challenge validity Smith State California, 361 147, 80 215, 205, foreclosed,10 construction makes unnecessary us define today 'what requisite constitutionally permissible prosecution.' Id., 219. Constitution avoid hazard self-censorship protected compensate ambiguities inherent amply serves ends, therefore meets demands Constitution.11 Cf. 495—496, 1314—1315 (Warren, C.J., concurring). 13 principal insufficient scienter. merit. record consists, part, writers; efforts disguise enterprise published sold books; transparency question, highlighted titles, covers, illustrations; massive number published, hired possessed sale; repetitive quality sequences formats exorbitant marked shows 'aware material' activity 'not filth.' II. claims all improperly admitted fruits illegal searches seizures. capable itself brought here petition writ certiorari 28 Code KF62 1257(3) (1964 ed.) setting federal right.12 Nevertheless, challenged constitutionality prosecution, sustained statute, properly unrestricted notation jurisdiction justified briefing search seizure issue. Flournoy Weiner, 321 253, 263, 64 548, 553, 88 L.Ed. 708; Prudential insurance company Cheek, 259 530, 547, 42 516, 523, 66 1044. nonappealable issue treated, however, contained certiorari, 2103 understood grant remains jurisdiction, we may, good reason, even stage, decline issue, much dismiss improvidently granted. think exercise discretion. far-reaching important questions tendered presented sufficient clarity justify decision. standing assert seizures entirely clear; no finding book stores, Main Stem Book Shop Midget Shop, seized. seeks basement storeroom seizure, n basis consent printer-accomplice; findings authority over access storeroom, voluntariness alleged consent. maintained warrant; yet neither affidavit upon warrant issued nor record. Finally, while has seizures, Quantity Copies Books Kansas, 378 206, 84 1723 (opinion Brennan, J.); Marcus Search Warrants Property 104 East Tenth Street, Kansas Mo., 367 717, 81 1708, There how total available copies bookstores seized impossible determine threshold dissemination. apparently considered state courts, raised jurisdictional statement; appeared time brief merits. light circumstances, apprehended took reach claim; insofar may regarded dismissed 'Examination bring into 'proper focus' consideration later improvident.' Monrosa Carbon Black Export, 359 180, 184, 79 710, 713, 723. Affirmed. APPENDIX TO OPINION THE COURT. 18 CONVICTIONS BEING REVIEWED. 19 Counts Naming 20 21 Exhibit Publishing Hiring 22 Title Possession Others Chances Go Around 63 111 Impact 112 Female Sultan 65 113 Satin Satellite Her Highness 67 115 Mistress Leather 68 116 Educating Edna 69 117 Strange Passions 70 118 23 Whipping Chorus Girls 71 119 Order Of Day Bound Maritally 72 120 Dance With Dominant Whip 73 121 Cult Spankers 74 122 Confessions 75 123 24 46 Hours Torture 40 76 124 25 47 Rubber 41 125 48 Arduous Figure Training Bondhaven 78 126 27 49 Return Visit To Fetterland 43 127 Fearful Ordeal Restraintland 128 29 50 Women Distress 44 129 30 54 Pleasure Parade 82 130 31 57 Screaming Flesh 51 134 32 58 Fury 52 So Firm Fully Packed 87 135 I'll Try Anything Twice 33 59 Masque 53 Catanis 34 35 36 Violated Wrestler 89 137 Betrayal Swish Bottom 90 138 Raw Dames 91 139 Strap Returns 92 140 Dangerous Years 93 141 Columns Agony 37 95 144 Tainted 38 96 145 45 Intense Desire 39 97 146 133 132 83 131 55 Sorority Stringent Initiation 98 147 Terror At Bizarre Museum 99 148 60 Temptation 61 Peggy's On Planet Venus 101 150 62 Ways Discipline 102 151 Mrs. Tyrant's Finishing School 103 152 Perilous Assignment 153 Bondage Correspondence 107 156 Woman Impelled 106 Eye Witness 108 157 Stud Broad 109 158 Queen Bee 110 159 HARLAN, concurring. concur affirmance stated my dissenting Named 'John Cleland's Memoirs Pleasure' Attorney General, 455, 996. respects agree join Court's BLACK, dissenting. affirms sentences plus totaling imposed Mishkin based charges publish himself cases Fourteenth applicable States. illustration collected concurring Speiser Randall, 357 513, 1332, 1344, 1460. Consequently same grounds dissented from five-year sentence 950, sending matter through mails dissent three-year Mishkin. Neither read matter. believe reasons prior power censor speech press regardless particular subject discussed. judiciary appointed life appropriate tribunal could selected interpret thereby mark boundaries government agencies can cannot do. But tenure, reasons, least branch take censorship responsibilities deciding pictures writings people throughout land permitted read. When particularized rules read, determines policies reasonable right performing classical function legislative bodies directly responsible people. Accordingly, wish once express objections saddling irksome inevitably unpopular unwholesome task finally case-by-case, sight-by-sight personal pornography (whatever means) too hard core If views about then am reluctantly compelled say tedious, time-consuming unwelcome responsibility discussions opinions must suppressed country, should, Nation, vested governmental institution institutions reverse minor comparison lengthy inexorably bound follow pressures prejudices increase grow powerful, course will. Nor answer assuredly ever-increasing punishments rely strike down 'cruel punishments' Eighth Amendment. Distorting stretching granting unreviewable perform fixing national offenses offers sadly inadequate solution multitudinous problems generated consider un-American policy censoring thoughts practical concededly almost unanswerable is, think, act board censors instead stick authorized duty adjudicate things conduct. Halfway methods, laudably motivated, protect cherished freedoms destructive aggressions both government. announce Amendments together command Congress shall pass laws abridge freedom press—whatever subjects Founders Nation adopting meant precisely Government 'no law' regulating confine legislation too, Fourteenth, leaves vast regulate all, judgment, expression crime. STEWART, numerous However tawdry be, hard-core pornography, therefore, Amendments. 497, 956 (dissenting opinion). reversed.* Section Law, McKinney's Consol.Laws, chapter 40, pertinent reads follows: '1. possession sell, lend, lewd, lascivious, filthy, indecent, sadistic, masochistic disgusting prints, utters, publishes, manufactures, prepares '2. manner, hires, employs, uses permits assist doing thing mentioned section, them, 'Is misdemeanor '4. six identical articles coming provisions subdivision section presumptive violation section. '5. magazine pamphlet designed, composed commercially exploit combining pictures, drawings, illustrations, caricatures, cartoons, words, stories advertisements combination combinations thereof devoted description, portrayal deliberate suggestion illicit including adultery, prostitution, fornication, crime perversion exploitation nudity presentation nude partially female figures, posed, photographed otherwise provoke incite interest, thereof, section.' information charged counts 1141; instance single count named although often counts, alleging types offenses. these, motion prosecutor outset trial verdicts acquittal entered seven end trial. remaining listed Appendix charging violations 330 General Business 20, failing publisher's names addresses Division reversed affirmed. sought review decision court divided five groups purposes sentencing. One consisted concerning warehouse; second concerned bookstore, Outlet; third counts; fourth fifth Law. Sentences year $3,000 fine four groups; consecutive concurrent $500 Sentence suspended counts. suspension render moot invalidity 'It (obscene covered focuses predominantly morbid, grossly perverse bizarre, artistic scientific justification. Recognizable 'by insult offers, invariably, human spirit' (D. Lawrence, Pornography Obscenity (1930), Page 12), differentiated bawdy ribald. Depicting dirt dirt's sake, vile, coarse, blow sense, sensibility. smacks, times, fantasy unreality, sickness represents, thoughtful scholar, 'a debauchery faculty'. Murray, Literature Censorship, Trial 393, 394; see, also, Lockhart McClure, Censorship Obscenity: Developing Constitutional Standards, Minn.L.Rev. 5, 65.' N.Y.2d, 587, 376, N.E.2d, 686. Fritch, 119, 123, 243 1, 192 716 (1963): 'In foregoing tests decisions (United States) Court, Law Incorporated termed pornography." 345, 472 eviscerates vagueness claim. See, infra, Pages 510-512. generally, Boyce Motor Lines, 337, 329, 331, 367; American Communications Ass'n. CIO Douds, 339 382, 412—413, 674, 690—691, 94 925; Screws 325 91, 101—104, 1031, 1035—1036, 1495 Douglas); Ragen, 314 524, 374, 378, 383; Gorin 312 19, 27—28, 429, 433—434, 488; Hygrade Provision Sherman, 266 501—503, 141, 142—143, 402; Omaechevarria Idaho, 246 343, 348, 323, 325, 763. plausibly dominated descriptions relationships, appeal. Manual Enterprises, Day, 370 478, 482, 1432, 1434, 639 72—73 true Alberts resembled here. involving before either 481, n. 8, 1306. basic question obscenity, however defined, criminally punished guarantees. Our discussion develop nuances Handbook Psychiatry 593—604 (Arieti ed. 1959), description For Model 251.4(2); Commentary, (Tentative Draft 6, 1957), 14, 49—51; cf. Schwartz, Morals Offenses Code, Col.L.Rev. 669, 677 (1963). Judge Froessel's parenthetical knowledge contents 300, 304, 229 367, 183 661, 663 (1962), modification 126, 717—718 out text seem law, publishers booksellers; activities encompassed 1141. Moreover, speculate present (making hire books), offense convicted. asserted below possible duplicative Finkelstein defining after tried, conclude appellate correctly applied did allege argued, here, omission renders Unlike challenges St., 1127, 1723, 809, implicated statutory schemes establishing procedures seizing 499, 3, 956, 957 equivalent eyes readers. Cir.). Although purported calls abundantly clear phrase means been limited identifiable distinct S.8ct.

Classification Label: 2