hicks miranda argued march decided june police pursuant four separate warrants seized four copies allegedly obscene film appellees theater misdemeanor charges filed municipal two theater employees california superior ordered appellees show cause film declared obscene subsequently superior declared film obscene ordered seized copies might found theater rather appealing order appellees filed suit federal district appellant police officers prosecuting attorneys seeking injunction enforcement california obscenity statute return seized copies film judgment declaring statute unconstitutional convened consider constitutionality statute meanwhile appellees added parties defendant municipal criminal proceeding thereafter declared obscenity statute unconstitutional ordered return appellees seized copies film rejected appellants claim younger harris samuels mackell required dismissal case holding criminal charges pending appellees state event pattern search warrants seizures film showed bad faith harassment authorities part denied appellants motions rehearing relief judgment based inter alia intervening dismissal want substantial federal question appeal miller california miller ii california superior judgment sustaining constitutionality california obscenity statute reaffirmed younger harris ruling concluding bound dismissal miller ii supra adhered judgment obscenity statute unconstitutional although amended injunction require appellants seek return three four copies film municipal possession held jurisdiction appeal injunction well declaratory judgment properly pp although constitutional issues presented miller ii declared insubstantial considered substantial decided otherwise district miller ii require dissolved circumstances since appellees challenged enforcement obscenity statute also sought enjoin enforcement search warrant statutes necessarily constitutional grounds insofar might applied permit multiple seizures film since miller ii nothing issue validity multiple seizures issue remained case remained session consider pp district injunction requiring appellants seek return three copies film municipal possession plainly interfered pending criminal prosecution enforcement obscenity statute hence injunction reserved pp district erred reaching merits case despite appellants insistence dismissed younger harris samuels mackell pp state criminal proceedings begun federal plaintiffs federal complaint filed proceedings substance merits taken place federal principles younger harris apply full force appellees charged state criminal proceedings prior appellants answering federal case prior proceedings hence federal complaint dismissed appellants motion absent satisfactory proof extraordinary circumstances warranting one exceptions rule younger harris related cases pp absent least effort district impeach prosecuting officials entitlement rely repeated judicial authorization seizures film official bad faith harassment made district erred holding otherwise pp white delivered opinion burger blackmun powell rehnquist joined burger filed concurring opinion post stewart filed dissenting opinion douglas brennan marshall joined post oretta sears pro se arlo smith assistant attorney general california argued cause appellants briefs evelle younger attorney general jack winkler chief assistant attorney general edward assistant attorney general alvin knudson deputy attorney general cecil hicks pro se michael capizzi ronald bevins stanley fleishman sam rosenwein argued cause appellees brief david brown justice white delivered opinion case poses issues younger harris samuels mackell related cases well preliminary question jurisdiction direct appeal judgment district november pursuant four separate warrants issued seriatim police seized four copies film deep throat shown pussycat theatre buena park orange county cal november criminal misdemeanor charge filed orange county municipal two employees theater film seized subject matter two counts complaint also november superior orange county ordered appellees show cause deep throat declared obscene immediate hearing available appellees appeared day objected grounds jurisdiction conduct proceeding purported reserve federal questions refused participate thereupon november superior held hearing viewed film took evidence declared movie obscene ordered seized copies might found theater judgment order appealed appellees instead november filed suit district appellants four police officers buena park district attorney assistant district attorney orange country complaint recited seizures proceedings superior stated action injunction enforcement california obscenity statute prayed judgment declaring obscenity statute unconstitutional injunction ordering return copies film permitting one films duplicated return temporary restraining order requested denied district judge finding proof irreparable injury lacking insufficient likelihood prevailing merits warrant injunction requested convening however consider constitutionality statute designated january service complaint completed january answers motions dismiss well motion summary judgment filed appellants appellees moved preliminary injunction none motions granted hearings held issues ordered submitted briefs affidavits attorney general california also appeared urged district follow people enskat cal app cal rptr hearing denied miller california miller upheld california obscenity statute meanwhile january criminal complaint pending municipal amended naming appellees additional parties defendant adding four conspiracy counts one relating seized films also motions defendants case two films ordered suppressed ground two search warrants seizing deep throat last issued one november november sufficiently allege films seized warrants differed films previously seized final two seizures said invalid multiple seizures immediately order later appealed reversed defense prosecution stipulated purposes trial expected four prints film considered identical one copy proved trial june issued judgment opinion declaring california obscenity statute unconstitutional failure satisfy requirements miller ordering appellants return appellees copies deep throat seized well refrain making additional seizures appellants claim younger harris samuels mackell required dismissal case rejected holding criminal charges pending state appellees event pattern search warrants seizures demonstrated bad faith harassment part authorities relieved strictures younger harris supra related cases appellants filed various motions rehearing amend judgment relief judgment also later calling attention two developments considered important first dismissal july want substantial federal question appeal miller california miller ii judgment superior appellate department orange county california sustaining constitutionality california obscenity statute district declared unconstitutional second reversal superior appellate department suppression order issued criminal case pending municipal per curiam reversal citing aday superior cal saying requisite prompt adversary determination obscenity heller new york held september denied appellants motions reaffirmed june younger harris ruling concluding bound dismissal miller ii adhered judgment california statute invalid federal constitution response appellants claim without power comply june injunction films possession municipal amended injunctive portion order read follows defendants shall good faith petition municipal north orange county judicial district return plaintiffs three four film prints seized plaintiffs november city buena park ii deal first question jurisdiction direct appeal outset case concededly matter appellees complaint asserted much contend otherwise furthermore june district declared california obscenity statute unconstitutional ordered return copies film seized appellees claim order aborted pending criminal prosecution injunction within meaning appealable jurisdictional issues arise events occurred subsequent june first question emerges summary dismissal miller ii appellants claimed district claim miller ii binding district required sustain california obscenity statute dismiss case appellants correct position question arises whether miller ii removed necessity rule bailey patterson event appellate jurisdiction also evaporate agree appellants district error holding disregard decision miller ii case appeal decision state upholding state statute federal constitutional attack federal constitutional issue properly presented within appellate jurisdiction discretion refuse adjudication case merits true case brought certiorari jurisdiction obligated grant case plenary consideration required deal merits concluding appeal dismissed constitutional challenge california statute substantial one free disregard pronouncement justice brennan observed otes affirm summarily dismiss want substantial federal question hardly needs comment votes merits case ohio ex rel eaton price cf stern gressman practice ed however deciding case merits dismisses want substantial question wright law federal courts ed summary disposition appeal however either affirmance dismissal want substantial federal question disposition merits district followed second circuit advice first port authority protective committee port new york authority unless instruct otherwise inferior federal courts best adhere view branded question unsubstantial remains except doctrinal developments indicate otherwise later doe hodgson cert denied sub nom doe brennan lower courts bound summary decisions time informs although constitutional issues presented miller ii declared insubstantial considered substantial decided otherwise district conclude miller ii required dissolved circumstances case appellees plaintiffs district challenged enforcement obscenity statute also sought enjoin enforcement california search warrant statutes penal code ed supp insofar might applied contrary heller new york permit multiple seizures occurred case application preliminary injunction made aim suit quite express june decision declared obscenity statute unconstitutional ordered four copies film returned constitutional conclusion reaffirmed september despite miller ii injunction extent modified miller ii however nothing validity multiple seizures issue wholly independent validity obscenity statutes issue validity light heller challenged application search warrant statutes remained case miller ii dismissal indeed although district based injunctive order unconstitutionality obscenity statutes injunction also interfered enforcement california search warrant statutes necessarily constitutional grounds question case remained session also dealt younger issue reaching merits constitutional issues presented issue however show part iii correctly decided appellees contend gonzalez automatic employees credit union mtm baxley injunctions issued properly convened courts directly appealable courts alone may issue injunction finally issued september one reserved even appellees premise correct see philbrook glodgett agree conclusion injunction entered appealable state statute declared unconstitutional also injunctive order amended september required appellants seek return three prints deep throat subject nine counts amended criminal complaint still pending municipal return copies prohibit use evidence furthermore prevent retention probable destruction contraband state prevail criminal case plainly order interfered pending criminal prosecution enforcement state obscenity statute circumstances injunctive order issued federal state authorities necessarily rested federal constitutional grounds aside opinion california statute unconstitutional district articulated basis assuming authority order return films effect negate three four seizures state search warrants appellate department superior upheld also proceedings superior declared film obscene seizable district june opinion think made constitutional thesis express gravamen defendants justification course property contraband evidence fruit illegal activity justification however dissipates face declaration statute invalid iii district committed error reaching merits case despite appellants insistence dismissed younger harris samuels mackell filed federal complaint state criminal proceedings pending appellees name two employees theater charged four copies deep throat belonging appellees seized held declared obscene seizable superior appellees substantial stake state proceedings much sought federal relief demanding state statute declared void films returned obviously interests employees intertwined pointed federal action sought interfere pending state prosecution absent clear showing appellees whose lawyers also represented employees seek return property state proceedings see federal claims presented requirements younger harris avoided ground criminal prosecution pending appellees date federal complaint filed rule younger harris designed permit state courts try state cases free interference federal courts particularly party federal case may fully litigate claim state plainly comity considerations apply allee medrano burger concurring interference sought appellees parties state case day following completion service complaint appellees charged along employees municipal neither steffel thompson case held younger harris apply state criminal proceedings must pending day federal case filed indeed issue left open hold state criminal proceedings begun federal plaintiffs federal complaint filed proceedings substance merits taken place federal principles younger harris apply full force appellees charged january prior answering federal case prior proceedings whatsoever unless trivialize principles younger harris federal complaint dismissed appellants motion absent satisfactory proof extraordinary circumstances calling play one limited exceptions rule younger harris related cases district concluded extraordinary circumstances shown form official harassment bad faith also error relevant findings district vague conclusory references pattern seizure evidence brought light petition rehearing unexplicated conclusion drawn regardless nature judicial proceeding police bent banishing deep throat buena park yet step pattern seizures condemned district authorized judicial warrant order district purport invalidate four warrants way question propriety proceedings superior even mention reversal suppression order appellate department absent least effort district impeach entitlement prosecuting officials rely repeated judicial authorization conduct agree bad faith harassment made indeed conclusion necessarily follow even shown state courts error one issues state federal law last analysis seems us district judgment rests almost entirely conclusion california obscenity statute unconstitutional unenforceable even assuming district correct conclusion statute condemned november district entitled infer official bad faith merely district disagreed people enskat otherwise bad faith harassment present every case state statute ruled unconstitutional rule younger harris swallowed exception district dismissed complaint accordingly reverse judgment ordered footnotes response claims bad faith later made four police officer appellants asserted october successive seizures deep throat made warrant riverside county cal theater involved seizures sought federal relief denied seizures upheld despite challenge heller new york decision asserted buena park authorities sought warrants seizure deep throat showing city order ran vincent miranda dba pussycat theater walnut properties theater employees actually miranda owned land theater located business walnut properties pussycat theater hollywood california corporation miranda president stockholder nothing made parties confusion identification apparent basis pursuing appellate remedies illuminated course following colloquy case judge ferguson appellees counsel occurred appellees sought relief described infra subsequent actions superior appellate department taken order california appeals mr brown brown honor initially back november first occurred day hearing filed complaint action one bases relief alleged complaint deprivation plaintiff constitutional rights virtue proceedings alleged beginning proceedings violative california law clearly violative constitutional rights asked give us relief specific proceeding inception action matter fact invoked jurisdiction properly sought relief press matter california state courts well go halfway go way brown honor first hearing november filed documents superior stating reserving questions federal constitutional law pursuant england case knew may mind trap set litigant circumstances intent beginning allege federal jurisdiction seek relief civil rights act events first time appeared orange county superior indicated case yes told august appeared superior orange county made kind motion brown honor let set aside judge mcmillan order reference seizures two films denied request question simple one go halfway required go way brown purpose beginning litigate claims state well think fit proper california courts permitted eradicate deficiencies may occur lower courts right take california question brown honor done also right invoke federal jurisdiction understand right question jurisdiction question given california appellate courts right forum correct deficiencies california lower courts say exist brown honor situation litigant choice unsettled question right answer want answer brown correct right brown want consider question state law unsettled question right judge lydick district judge case assigned following initial disqualification judge ferguson made ruling conclusion appellees failed totally make showing irreparable damage lack adequate legal remedy likelihood prevailing merits needed justify issuance temporary restraining order require defendants disobey orders state courts restrain lawful enforcement state statute judge ferguson judge lydick designated serve panel state california insists providing district judge application injunction relief presented shall constitute one member judge lydick one three members deem requirement jurisdictional however even though order appointing called early filing objections composition issue never presented district raised first time view late motion sought injunction enforcement california penal code et seq ed supp well ed supp sections constitute chapter penal code entitled search warrants sections provide issuance service return search warrants actually amended complaint named defendants vincent miranda walnut properties see supra referring amended criminal complaint appellees speak amendment complaint include names appellees brief appellees prosecution claimed film different filed affidavits effect asserted official policy seize one copy film unless different versions exhibited limited attention search warrant affidavits said expressly allege last two copies seized different prosecution later asserted stipulation provide return suppressed films others films returned suppression order appealed reversed see infra page showing deep throat meanwhile resumed appellees soon miller ii reversal suppression order superior orange county reaffirmed order november directed additional seizures deep throat seizures warrant also made film devil miss jones proceeding judge ferguson sitting single judge judge declined hold appellants contempt failing return copies deep throat covered june judgment oral ruling argue brown comes arguing contempt occurred failure turn three films result november seizures defendants filed motion reconsider opinion circulating among three judge reference motion absurd say contempt failure turn three films reference returning three films find contempt either primarily issue returning films taken submission three judge specific order outstanding required immediate compliance order show cause reference contempt vacated amended judgment entered response timely motions rehearing amend june judgment appellees insist amended judgment appellants filed notices appeal june judgment despite pending motions contend district jurisdiction enter september order appellants also appealed september judgment however think appellees better view issue amended judgment us section provides except otherwise provided law party may appeal order granting denying notice hearing interlocutory permanent injunction civil action suit proceeding required act congress heard determined district three judges interlocutory permanent injunction restraining enforcement operation execution state statute restraining action officer state enforcement execution statute order made administrative board commission acting state statutes shall granted district judge thereof upon ground unconstitutionality statute unless application therefore heard determined district three judges section title although local officers defendants enforcing statewide statute state officers purposes spielman motor dodge course miller ii decisive issues miller ii present case sufficiently miller ii controlling precedent thus district considered bound summary dismissals appeals initial task ascertain issues properly presented miller ii declared without substance ascertaining reach content summary actions may present issues real substance circumstances constitutionality state statute stake undertaking may one whether case need decide aday superior cal california sustained use search warrant effect massive seizure obscene books pending outcome criminal trial rejected first amendment claim referring obscene books contraband noting allowed interim relief obscenity cases order prevent frustration judicial condemnation obscene matter later decisions quantity books kansas undermined aday insofar permits state absent prior adversary hearing block distribution exhibition heller new york films books seizing greater quantities necessary use evidence criminal case judicial proceedings however reversing municipal suppression order see supra take superior reference aday mean november seizures effected search warrant valid case state statute prompt adversary hearing determine obscenity held hearing view remove constitutional objection heller new york supra retention one copy deep throat district injunction nevertheless required return three seized films course pass upon merits reversal suppression order views expressed therein district noted prosecution defense counsel following suppression order municipal stipulated four copies deemed identical one copy need proved however prosecution denied agreement return suppressed films successfully appealed suppression order asserted district order interfered prosecution case said judgment district also interfered enforcement california search warrant statutes least justices thought perez ledesma brennan joined white marshall concurring dissenting also steffel thompson supra decide whether injunction well declaratory judgment issued state prosecution pending appellees also argue dismissal younger harris required people enskat cal app cal rptr settled constitutional issue state courts respect obscenity statute younger harris easily avoided state courts like courts sometimes change minds moreover people enskat decision intermediate appellate state california asked pass upon constitutionality california statute event way open appellees present federal issues event adverse decision california courts june opinion stated finally objective facts set forth first part opinion clearly demonstrate bad faith harassment justify federal intervention editorializing facts serve purpose sufficient note pattern seizures plaintiffs cash receipts films demonstrate police bent upon course action regardless nature judicial proceeding effectively exorcise movie deep throat buena park noted appellees appeal superior order november declaring deep throat obscene ordering copies seized may huffman pursue failure appellees appeal superior order november foreclose resort federal absent extraordinary circumstances bringing case within exception younger harris appellees assert seemingly contrary prior statement judge ferguson see supra november order appealable view disposition case need pursue matter need decide intimate opinion whether superior proceedings claimed appellees unauthorized california law chief justice burger concurring join opinion add word composition district circumstances convened district judge application relief presented notifies chief judge need convene shall constitute one member well settled shall means must cf merced rosa herrero yet judge called named panel however appellants made timely objection composition ante obviously occasions arise rendering impossible district judge initiates convening serve light unqualified mandatory language statute occurs obligation see record reveal least statement circumstances accounting substitution justice stewart justice douglas justice brennan justice marshall join dissenting many aspects opinion seem open serious challenge dissent however directed part iii opinion holds district committed error reaching merits case despite appellants insistence dismissed younger harris samuels mackell steffel thompson unanimously held principles equity comity federalism embodied younger harris samuels mackell preclude federal district entertaining action declare unconstitutional state criminal statute state criminal prosecution threatened pending time federal complaint filed today holds steffel decision inoperative state criminal charge filed point commencement federal action proceedings substance merits taken place federal ante rule says trivialize principles younger harris think ruling trivializes steffel decided last term inconsistent principles equity comity federalism sure something unseemly applicability younger doctrine turn solely outcome race courthouse rule adopts today however eliminate race merely permits state leave mark later run shorter course arrive first finish line rule seems result failure evaluate state federal interests time state prosecution commenced time jurisdiction invoked steffel situation federal called upon vindicate federal constitutional rights remedy available federal plaintiff recognized point proceedings substantial state interests counsel federal stay hand thus lake carriers assn macmullan noted considerations equity practice comity federal system little force absence pending state proceeding steffel unanimous explained balance interests way state criminal proceeding pending time federal complaint filed federal intervention result duplicative legal proceedings disruption state criminal justice system federal intervention circumstance interpreted reflecting negatively upon state ability enforce constitutional principles addition pending state prosecution provides federal plaintiff concrete opportunity vindicate constitutional rights refusal part federal courts intervene state proceeding pending may place hapless plaintiff scylla intentionally flouting state law charybdis forgoing believes constitutionally protected activity order avoid becoming enmeshed criminal proceeding duty federal courts adjudicate vindicate federal constitutional rights course shared state courts doubt federal courts primary powerful reliances vindicating every right given constitution laws treaties frankfurter landis business study federal judicial system statute action brought established law role federal government guarantor basic federal rights state power mitchum foster indeed purpose interpose federal courts people see also zwickler koota mcneese board education monroe pape central interest federal guarantor constitutional rights fully implicated moment jurisdiction invoked subsequent filing state criminal charge change situation one federal dismissal action younger principles turn federalism head one failure dismiss trivialize principles state vital interest enforcement criminal law said time sanction little federal interference important state function kugler helfant nothing decision steffel requires state stay hand pendency federal litigation interest efficiency state wishes refrain actively prosecuting criminal charge pending outcome federal declaratory judgment suit may course decision requires make choice today however goes much simply recognizing right state proceed orderly administration criminal law ousts federal courts historic role primary reliances vindicating constitutional freedoms less offensive federalism federal injunction restraining pending state criminal proceedings condemned younger harris concept federalism requires sensitivity legitimate interests state national governments emphasis added younger harris companion cases reflect principles federal judiciary must refrain interfering legitimate functioning state courts surely converse principle less valid new rule creates reality state prosecutors expected ignore open invitation state officials institute state proceedings order defeat federal jurisdiction one need impugn motives state officials suppose rather prosecute criminal suit state defend civil case federal forum today opinion virtually instructs state officials answer federal complaints state indictments today state must file criminal charge secure dismissal federal litigation perhaps tomorrow action akin criminal proceeding serve purpose see huffman pursue supra day may far state civil action doctrine younger harris reflects accommodation competing interests rule announced today distorts balance beyond recognition additional difficulty precise meaning rule today adopts good deal less apparent proceedings substance merits presumably proceedings must merits substance mean months discovery activity insufficient question merits presented time proceedings merits sufficient also unclear application temporary restraining order preliminary injunction requires make assessment likelihood success merits indeed case appellees filed application temporary restraining order along six supporting affidavits november appellants responded december six affidavits well additional documents december judge lydick denied request temporary restraining order part appellees failed totally make showing likelihood prevailing merits needed justify issuance temporary restraining order proceedings says implicitly sufficient satisfy test announces even terms holding mystery district found filing state criminal complaint six weeks state appeared oppose appellees application temporary restraining order day service complaint effected seem supply added justification finding harassment concluded institution criminal proceedings retaliation attempt plaintiffs constitutional rights judicially determined