Court Opinion

ID: 9659916
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 21:58:26.581866+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:12.924950
License: Public Domain

*870Meller-Lerman, Chief Judge,
concurring in part, and in part dissenting.
I respectfully concur in part and dissent in part.
I concur with the majority’s conclusion that the exclusion of the CableVision rules and regulations was prejudicial error requiring reversal. However, I dissent with respect to the majority’s analysis of the independent appellate task which this court is to and can undertake in this case. Specifically, as presented on appeal, I do not think this court can review exhibit 1, the work as a whole and, therefore, cannot opine on whether the work as a whole is or is not obscene. I would, therefore, reverse without direction rather than reverse and dismiss.
It is clear under the literature pertaining to obscenity that at the trial level, the jury’s determination of whether the challenged work is or is not obscene is a question of fact. Jenkins v. Georgia, 418 U.S. 153, 94 S. Ct. 2750, 41 L. Ed. 2d 642 (1974). The State and Harrold stipulated, as they are free to do as trial strategy, that the jury could perform its function by viewing exhibit 2, less than the whole.
It is also clear under the statute and cases that on appeal, the appellate court must review the entire work in conducting its independent appellate review. Section 28-813; Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15, 93 S. Ct. 2607, 37 L. Ed. 2d 419 (1973); Kois v. Wisconsin, 408 U.S. 229, 92 S. Ct. 2245, 33 L. Ed. 2d 312 (1972). The duty of the appellate court is to review the work as a whole, and this issue is to be decided by the appellate court as a matter of law. State v. American Theater Corp., 194 Neb. 84, 230 N.W.2d 209 (1975). The parties’ trial stipulation regarding the jury’s factfinding function does not alter the duty or task of the appellate court to review the entire work which was produced, distributed, and forms the basis of the charges against Harrold and to decide the obscenity issue as a matter of law. In this regard, the Nebraska Supreme Court has stated:
[T]he usual test in reviewing a jury verdict, i.e., is the finding supported by sufficient evidence, is not applicable in First Amendment cases and since it is only “obscenity” that is excluded from constitutional protection, the question whether a particular work is obscene is an issue which *871must be decided by the court as a matter of law, in reviewing such cases.
(Emphasis supplied.) 194 Neb. at 89, 230 N.W.2d at 212-13.
In the instant case, exhibit 1, the whole work which gave rise to the charges against Harrold, was received in evidence. An independent appellate review of the entire work must be conducted by reviewing exhibit 1. However, exhibit 1, which is recorded on 3/4-inch pneumatic videotape, a size and grade generally used in professional broadcasting, is not readable by this court on standard VHS equipment, and the parties have failed to provide the appropriate equipment for playback as required under Neb. Ct. R. of Prac. 5B(7) (rev. 1996). This courtis, thus, denied the performance of its duty and in my view should refrain from evaluating the work as a whole by reviewing exhibit 2, which is less than the whole work.
In sum, Harrold stands convicted of the production or distribution of exhibit 1, the whole work. Our independent appellate function is to review the work as a whole and as a matter of law determine whether exhibit 1 is or is not obscene. Our independent appellate responsibility is dictated by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Nebraska Supreme Court, and statute, and not by a trial stipulation between the parties as to how the jury could perform its separate and distinct function. The inability of this court to review exhibit 1 due to the failure of the parties to supply appropriate equipment for playback precludes our evaluation of the work as a whole, and I believe our commenting on the obscenity of the work based on a review of a part of the work is not proper. I would, therefore, reverse without direction.