Court Opinion

ID: 9525519
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 03:04:32.671496+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:15:16.697520
License: Public Domain

Kaplan, J.
(dissenting). Concurring in Commonwealth v. Horton, 365 Mass. 164, 177-178 (1974), and dissenting in part (with Tauro, C.J.) in Revere v. Aucella, 369 Mass. 138, 148, 149-150 (1975), I intimated my views on the constitutionality of legislation like that at bar. If it be assumed that a majority of the Supreme Court of the United States could be assembled to support the validity of the present statute under the Federal Constitution, I would hold nevertheless that it was void under the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights. I need not repeat the considerations brought forth in dissents in the Supreme Court cases which seem to me to apply as well under our own fundamental document.1

 See especially Brennan, J., dissenting in Paris Adult Theatre I v. Slaton, 413 U.S. 49, 73 (1973), and Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15, 47 (1973). See also Stanley v. Georgia, 394 U.S. 557 (1969).