city mesquite aladdin castle argued november decided february section appellant texas city licensing ordinance governing amusement establishments directs chief police consider whether license applicant connections criminal elements receiving recommendations chief police chief building inspector city planner city manager decides whether grant license denies license applicant may appeal city council city manager denied application chief police adverse recommendation applicant character applicant must show city council good character section ordinance prohibits licensee allowing children years age operate amusement devices unless accompanied parent legal guardian appellant ordered texas proceedings issue appellee amusement center operator license license application initially denied predecessor appellant repealed appellee exemption predecessor appellee brought suit federal district praying injunction enforcement ordinance district held unconstitutionally vague upheld appeals affirmed basing holding solely due process clause fourteenth amendment reversed basing holding texas constitution well fourteenth amendment held fact phrase connections criminal elements eliminated ordinance case pending appeals render case moot defendant voluntary cessation challenged practice deprive federal power determine legality practice appellant repeal objectionable language preclude reenacting provision district judgment vacated pp appeals erred holding unconstitutionally vague clear procedure followed application license denied city manager based chief police recommendation phrase connections criminal elements standard approval disapproval application rather applicant possible connection criminal elements merely subject directs chief police investigate makes recommendation city manager federal constitution preclude city giving vague ambiguous directions officials authorized make investigations recommendations pp congress limited jurisdiction review questions state law ambiguity appeals holding remand clarification holding necessary decide federal constitutional question connected relevant language texas constitutional provisions different arguably significantly broader language corresponding federal provisions unclear whether apply matter federal law standard applied matter state law appeals reviewing policy avoid unnecessary adjudication federal constitutional questions need decision federal issue texas law provides independent support appeals judgment pp reversed part remanded elland archer argued cause filed briefs appellant philip tone argued cause appellee brief louis bickel thomas case sampen christopher varner briefs amici curiae urging affirmance filed lawrence gunnels james klenk rufus king amusement device manufacturers association philip herrick amusement music operators association robert bork david springer filed brief atari amicus curiae justice stevens delivered opinion appeals fifth circuit declared unconstitutional two sections licensing ordinance governing amusement establishments city mesquite texas section ordinance directs chief police consider whether license applicant connections criminal elements held unconstitutionally vague section prohibits licensee allowing children years age operate amusement devices unless accompanied parent legal guardian held without rational basis first holding rests solely due process clause fourteenth amendment constitution appeals stated second holding rested two provisions texas constitution well fourteenth amendment federal constitution congress limited jurisdiction review questions state law ambiguity appeals second holding conclude remand clarification holding necessary however impediment review first holding april accommodate proposal aladdin castle aladdin open amusement center shopping mall city exempted prohibition operation amusement devices unattended children certain amusement centers features defined terms aladdin rules long children age seven accompanied adult thereafter aladdin entered lease made arrangements open center mall august however application license refused chief police concluded aladdin parent corporation connected criminal elements aladdin brought suit texas state obtained injunction requiring city issue license forthwith texas found neither aladdin parent corporation connection criminal elements vagueness ordinance contravened texas federal constitutions february less month city complied injunction issuing license aladdin city adopted new ordinance repealing aladdin exemption thereby reinstating age requirement defining term connections criminal elements detail aladdin commenced action district northern district texas praying injunction enforcement new ordinance trial district held language connections criminal elements even defined unconstitutionally vague district upheld age restriction ordinance already noted appeals affirmed former holding reversed latter invoking appellate jurisdiction city asks us reverse judgment appeals noted probable jurisdiction aladdin advised us ordinance reviewed appeals amended december eliminating phrase connections criminal elements age restriction however retained question mootness raised revision ordinance became effective case pending appeals decided term connections criminal elements unconstitutionally vague language longer part ordinance arguably fully advised regarded vagueness issue moot clear us however duty well settled defendant voluntary cessation challenged practice deprive federal power determine legality practice abandonment important factor bearing question whether exercise power enjoin defendant renewing practice matter relating exercise rather existence judicial power case city repeal objectionable language preclude reenacting precisely provision district judgment vacated city followed course respect age restriction first reduced aladdin obvious response state judgment exemption eliminated certainty similar course pursued recent amendment effective defeat federal jurisdiction therefore must confront merits vagueness holding basic principle due process enactment void vagueness prohibitions clearly defined grayned city rockford emphasis added may assume definition connections criminal elements city ordinance vague defendant convicted offense connection may even assume without deciding standard also vague support denial application license operate amusement center assumptions sufficient however support holding ordinance invalid applicant possible connection criminal elements merely subject ordinance directs chief police investigate makes recommendation city manager either grant deny pending application federal constitution preclude city giving vague ambiguous directions officials authorized make investigations recommendations constitutional objection ordinance merely required administrative official review relevant information make investigation deems appropriate formulating recommendation judgment appeals therefore incorrect insofar held directive chief police unconstitutionally vague ii appeals stated conclusion age requirement ordinance invalid rested interpretation texas constitution well federal constitution hold seventeen year old age requirement violates texas constitutional guarantees due process law application age requirement amusement centers violates federal texas constitutional guarantees equal protection law footnotes omitted jurisdiction appeal based precluded reviewing appeals interpretation texas constitution federal statute provides cases courts appeals may reviewed following methods appeal party relying state statute held appeals invalid repugnant constitution treaties laws appeal shall preclude review writ certiorari instance appellant review appeal shall restricted federal questions presented city contends however appeals place independent reliance texas law merely treated texas constitutional protections congruent corresponding federal provisions reading appeals opinion correction federal error automatically result revision appeals interpretation texas constitution instead providing independent support judgment texas law understood appeals dependent reading federal law although city contention derives support appeals greater reliance federal precedents texas cases nevertheless decline reasons follow decide federal constitutional question first noteworthy language texas constitutional provision different arguably significantly broader language corresponding federal provisions number recent state decisions demonstrate state entirely free read state constitution broadly reads federal constitution reject mode analysis used favor different analysis corresponding constitutional guarantee see generally brennan state constitutions protection individual rights harv rev cases cited therein learned members texas bar sit appeals fifth circuit confronts questions texas law regular course judicial business better position recognize special nuances state law fact appeals cited four texas cases insufficient basis concluding make independent analysis texas law second important take note appeals interpretation texas requirement legislative rationality interpretation seems adopt standard requiring legislative classification rests upon ground difference fair substantial relation object legislation formulation derived opinion royster guano virginia unclear whether apply royster guano standard present case see railroad retirement bd fritz craig boren therefore surely evident texas standard federal standard congruent finally greater importance policy avoiding unnecessary adjudication federal constitutional questions recently noted see minnick california dept corrections limitation exercise jurisdiction importance institution transcends significance particular controversies reason hasty decision constitutional question presented case advanced texas law provides independent support appeals judgment need decision federal issue hand city correct suggesting appeals interpretation state law dependent federal analysis advise us discharge responsibilities free concern may unnecessarily reaching decide novel constitutional question judgment appeals reversed part case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes section ordinance code city mesquite provided pertinent part person desiring obtain license amusement establishment shall apply city secretary original five copies one shall routed city manager chief police chief building inspector city planner review upon approval parties payment license fee city secretary shall issue license establishment shall valid one year shall chief police shall make recommendation based upon investigation applicant character conduct law abiding person shall consider past operations convictions felonies crimes involving moral turpitude connections criminal elements taking consideration attraction establishments tender years chief building inspector city planner shall determine compliance applicable building zoning ordinances city city manager received recommendations chief police chief building inspector city planner shall review application together recommendations may furnished shall approve application disapprove written notation reasons disapproval upon disapproval applicant may make corrections noted request approval request withdrawal refund license fee give notice appeal city manager decision event appeal city manager decision applicant shall give written notice intention appeal within ten days notice city manager decision appeal shall heard city council within thirty days date notice unless later date agreed upon applicant upon appeal city council city manager decision based upon adverse recommendation chief police applicant character applicant shall burden prescribed article show council good character law abiding citizen extent license issued upon hearing council may reverse decision city manager whole part may affirm decision applicant may appeal decision district within thirty days appeal shall upon substantial evidence rule violation requirements ordinance city manager may upon three days notice licensee revoke license granted hereunder rights appeal shall exist upon revocation upon disapproval original application app juris statement section provides shall unlawful owner operator displayer amusement machines allow person age seventeen years play operate amusement machine unless minor accompanied parent legal guardian see ordinance judgment trial affirmed texas civil appeals texas refused application writ error finding reversible error conclusion denial license supported substantial evidence declining reach vagueness question section ordinance defined terms used ordinance quoted supra reenacted without change section provided pertinent part connection criminal elements defined state affairs wherein applicant officer principal stockholder person substantial interest management responsibility corporation organization wherein organization applicant directly parent subsidiary affiliate association acquaintance business association parties convicted felony crime involving moral turpitude otherwise involved unlawful activities whether convicted extent fencing stolen merchandise illegally obtained funds procuring prostitutes transfer sale narcotics illegal substances made feasible likely protection tender years unwholesome influences rendered difficult determination department justice party member mafia cosa nostro family party engaged affiliated nationwide crime organization whether formally informally shall prima facia evidence far issuance license hereunder person connections criminal elements constitute within meaning ordinance criminal elements app juris statement supp aff part rev remanded part see ordinance app brief appellee becomes apparent case become moot appeal pending judgment normally vacated directions dismiss complaint see munsingwear test mootness cases stringent one mere voluntary cessation allegedly illegal conduct moot case courts compelled leave defendant free return old ways grant see freight case might become moot subsequent events made absolutely clear allegedly wrongful behavior reasonably expected recur course still open appellees show remand likelihood violations sufficiently remote make injunctive relief unnecessary matter trial judge case technically moot appeal properly taken choice decide concentrated phosphate export indeed city announced intention see tr oral arg appeals summarized relevant authorities follows law void vagueness persons common intelligence must necessarily guess meaning differ application smith goguen quoting connally general construction see generally note doctrine rev offense due process lies nature consequences vagueness first vague laws give individuals fair notice conduct proscribed papachristou city jacksonville accord grayned city rockford second vague laws limit exercise discretion law enforcement officials thus engender possiblity arbitrary discriminatory enforcement grayned city rockford papachristou city jacksonville third vague laws defeat intrinsic promise frustrate essence constitutional regime remain government laws men marbury madison cranch long laws remain clear citations abbreviated ordinance quoted pertinent part supra article texas constitution provides citizen state shall deprived life liberty property privileges immunities manner disfranchised except due course law land article texas constitution provides pertinent part free men form social compact equal rights review judgment disturb rests adequately upon basis subject examination anomaly contention correct may review appeals interpretation federal law cf zacchini broadcasting mental hygiene dept kirchner missouri ex rel southern mayfield minnesota national tea state tax van cott section opinion entitled rational basis appeals twice set forth test see first paragraph stated test requires legislative action rationally related accomplishment legitimate state purpose cited federal state decisions support formulation second paragraph stated test requires legislation constitute means reasonable arbitrary rests upon ground difference fair substantial relation object legislation quoting decision texas texas woman university chayklintaste turn quoted reed reed number decisions cited accord formulation although sure might reasonably infer second formulation test represents appeals interpretation texas law dissenting brethren suggest view allows federal courts overruling state statutes avoid appellate review simply adding citations state cases applying federal law post powell concurring part dissenting part unwilling assume federal judge discharge judicial responsibilities fashion event case merely hold appeals must explain basis conclusion one state ground adequate independent federal ground cf mental hygiene dept kirchner supra footnotes omitted california state whether holding based equal protection clause fourteenth amendment constitution equivalent provisions california constitution might speculate choice words used opinion authorities cited provision basis judgment state unable say degree certainty judgment california based adequate independent nonfederal ground always wary assuming jurisdiction case state unless plain federal question necessarily presented party seeking review must show jurisdiction case assume federal question basis decision clear california either remand another case presenting issues inform us opinion fact based least part california constitution thus leaving result untouched whatever conclusions might reached merits federal question reasons follow conclude clarifying proceedings california called principles stated minnesota national tea justice white concurring part dissenting part concur holding mesquite ordinance directing chief police consider whether license applicant connections criminal elements void vagueness like justice powell however dissent remand challenge age requirements mesquite ordinance sentiment avoid unnecessary constitutional decisions wise reason case suspect fifth circuit standard evaluating appellee due process equal protection claims texas constitution differed respect federal constitutional standards agree justice powell inclusion three cursory citations full discussion federal law federal neither reference adoption independent state ground post concurring part dissenting part refrain joining justice powell detailed discussion support position prefer engage debate present health royster guano standard understand expressed opinion ante rationale inquiring presence independent adequate state grounds avoid unnecessary abstract opinion hastings refrain unnecessary adjudication federal constitutional questions ante sole justification remanding case appeals justify disposition however finds necessary speculate whether formulation test initially stated royster guano virginia reiterated reed reed remains good law light recent decisions ante justice powell response declares never rejected either royster guano reed reed post fear lost sight fact reason pursuing inquiry avoid rendering advisory opinions federal constitutional law ironic seeking skirt relatively narrow issue whether mesquite age requirement constitutional issue decided appeals fully briefed instead entered highly abstract totally advisory speculation continuing validity one earlier statements matter small constitutional importance necessary interpret case twice removed totally unrelated matter us order justify remand appeals think clear independent nonfederal basis decision present delaware prouse agree issue mooted city revision ordinance conclusion inconsistent recent disposition princeton university schmid ante per curiam case princeton university regulations governing solicitation similar activity university property held invalid new jersey case pending new jersey princeton substantially amended contested regulations appeal held validity old regulations become moot issue unlike city mesquite princeton gave indication desired return original regulatory scheme absent judicial barrier case noted opinion mesquite announced intention ante test whether cessation allegedly illegal action moots case requires evaluate likelihood challenged action recur county los angeles davis basis disposition two cases consistent justice powell concurring part dissenting part concur holding mesquite ordinance void vagueness dissent however remand challenge jurisdictional basis review case provides mandatory review federal appellate decisions overturning state statutes federal constitutional grounds rather exercising jurisdiction remands case appeals clarify whether decision based texas law past automatically required clarification record reveals lower decisional basis federal law case opinion appeals contains analysis state law independent clear application federal law view justification remand city mesquite adopted ordinance stating owners pinball machines allow operation youths age years decision appeals held ordinance violated equal protection due process well first amendment rights free speech association opinion referred texas constitution due process equal protection clauses quoted relevant texas constitutional provisions margin length applied fourteenth amendment test mesquite ordinance citing quoting discussing total federal cases analysis two initial paragraphs defining broad principles applied analysis cited two texas cases quoted briefly another texas cases suggest adequate independent state ground overruling mesquite ordinance quoted case texas describing federal texas law texas woman university chayklintaste tex citing reed reed two texas cases cited one involves unsuccessful challenge zoning ordinance texas applied rule challenger zoning ordinance bears heavy burden showing exercise police power lawful city university park benners case actually supports validity mesquite ordinance texas law case falfurrias creamery city laredo tex civ app state established inspection program dairies one municipality passed ordinance milk sold within borders inspected local inspector texas civil appeals concluded requirement arbitrary since local inspector easily determine whether inspectors making inspect ions accordance standard ordinance contemplated state law single case dealing requirement designed favor local dairies basis serious allegation texas law allow mesquite exercise police power keeping youths pinball parlors basis inference weak afforded falfurrias creamery remand state federal even cited case law provided support appellee challenge inclusion three cursory citations full discussion federal law federal neither reference adoption independent state ground view allows federal courts overruling state statutes avoid appellate review simply adding citations state cases applying federal law rigid approach today required earlier decisions konigsberg state bar california example california argued california order dismissing petitioner prayer relief based independent adequate state ground requirements state procedural rule nevertheless proceeded merits federal question without remanding clarification dismissal order basis found proffered sources alleged state procedural rule unconvincing conclu ded constitutional issues us must consider omitted ii gives three reasons remanding first observes language state constitution quoted supra differs federal constitution texas may afford broader protection individual rights federal government relevant question however whether state law even different federal law whether appeals decided case state federal grounds deciding question citation three state cases course determinative however appeals failed discuss explain describe even state texas law despite extensive discussion federal law cases second point least imaginative focuses one sentence reed reed quoted texas case texas woman university chayklintaste ante sentence reiterated formulation analysis stated royster guano virginia today implies royster guano standard may longer good law citing railroad retirement bd fritz implication infers texas standard federal standard may congruent best answer speculative syllogism found discussion analysis appeals appendix hereto include three paragraphs opinion discuss standard review noted nine cases cited although three texas cases cited also slightest indication appeals distinguishing federal state law moreover subsequent pages applying review cite discuss single texas case aspect texas law though federal cases cited discussed included appendix finally relies traditional reluctance decide constitutional question unnecessarily noted jurisdiction consider validity mesquite ordinance question squarely presented general matter avoid unnecessary remands particularly true mandatory jurisdiction invoked neither appeals appellee presented substantial reason thinking mesquite ordinance invalid texas law independently federal law clearly basis decision circumstances duty decide substantive questions presented appendix opinion justice powell rational basis assuming rational basis test appropriate standard review conclude rationality supports ordinance test requires legislative action rationally related accomplishment legitimate state purpose first challenged legislation must legitimate public purpose based promotion public welfare health safety see rinaldi yeager falfurrias creamery city laredo tex civ app writ ref second act taken must bear rational relation end seeks see griswold connecticut white concurring schware board bar examiners city university park benners tex appeal dismissed requirement legislative rationality service legitimate purposes protects individuals liberties official arbitrariness unthinking prejudice one commentator noted irrationality least means patently useless service goal apart whim favoritism michelman politics values really wrong rationality review creighton law review test requires legislation constitute means reasonable arbitrary rests upon ground difference fair substantial relation object legislation texas woman university chayklintaste tex citing reed reed accord department agriculture moreno james strange jackson indiana stanley illinois eisenstadt baird examination ordinance reveals two stated purposes first ordinance seeks prevent truancy second seeks keep minors exposed people promote gambling sale narcotics unlawful activities conclude seventeen year old age requirement way rationally furthers interests regulating associational activity mesquite young citizens even making assumption goals legitimate tex art free men form social compact equal rights citizen state shall deprived life liberty property privileges immunities manner disfranchised except due course law land see also delaware prouse reaching federal issues interpretation state constitution depends federal law cicenia lagay looking record opinion concludes state dismissal appears based federal ground williams kaiser cited sources independent state ground considered insubstantial proceeds merits federal issue new york ex rel bryant zimmerman given state constitution equal protection clause concludes federal law must determinative herb pitcairn lower dismissed complaints indication whether dismissal based state federal law continued cases pending clarification lower decisional basis announcing outcome stated review judgment state fact decision rest adequate independent state ground appears record pitcairn however adopt rigid rule apparently adopts today continued willing look available record evidence none available pitcairn determine whether decision based adequate independent state ground see cicenia lagay supra konigsberg state bar california reports appeals cited four texas cases one case cited procedural history dispute parties relevant question texas law see fritz decided december appeals decided case november influenced fritz never rejected either royster guano reed reed stated fritz arrogant legal scholar claim cases appl uniform consistent test equal protection principles view example set reason perceive inferences divergent views failure appeals texas courts use entirely consistent terminology moreover generalizations analysis appeals fifth circuit went say even challenged ordinance rational basis nevertheless compelled strike infringement fundamental right association less federal cases cited conclusion texas case cited includes entire discussion standard review appeals portion appeals opinion today relies saying surely evident texas standard federal standard congruent ante see supra