stanley georgia argued decided april authority warrant search appellant home evidence alleged bookmaking activities officers found films bedroom films projected deemed obscene appellant arrested possession thereafter indicted tried convicted knowingly hav ing possession obscene matter violation georgia law georgia affirmed holding essential indictment charging one possession obscene matter alleged possession intent sell expose circulate appellant contends georgia obscenity statute unconstitutional insofar punishes mere private possession obscene matter georgia relying roth argues statute validity ground obscenity within area constitutionally protected speech press held first amendment made applicable fourteenth prohibits making mere private possession obscene material crime pp neither roth supra subsequent decisions made context statute punishing mere private possession obscene material involved governmental power prohibit regulate certain public actions respecting obscene matter pp constitution protects right receive information ideas regardless social worth generally free governmental intrusions one privacy control one thoughts pp state may prohibit mere possession obscene matter ground may lead antisocial conduct roth supra distinguished proscribe possession ground necessary incident statutory scheme prohibiting distribution see smith california pp wesley asinof argued cause filed brief appellant robert sparks argued cause appellee brief lewis slaton justice marshall delivered opinion investigation appellant alleged bookmaking activities led issuance search warrant appellant home authority warrant federal state agents secured entrance found little evidence bookmaking activity looking desk drawer upstairs bedroom one federal agents accompanied state officer found three reels film using projector screen found upstairs living room viewed films state officer concluded obscene seized since examination bedroom indicated appellant occupied charged possession obscene matter placed arrest later indicted knowingly hav ing possession obscene matter violation georgia law appellant tried jury convicted georgia affirmed stanley state noted probable jurisdiction appeal brought appellant raises several challenges validity conviction find necessary consider one appellant argues argued georgia obscenity statute insofar punishes mere private possession obscene matter violates first amendment made applicable fourteenth amendment reasons set forth agree mere private possession obscene matter constitutionally made crime saw valid constitutional objection georgia statute even though extends typical statute forbidding commercial sales obscene material held essential indictment charging one possession obscene matter alleged possession intent sell expose circulate stanley state supra state appellant agree question us whether statute imposing criminal sanctions upon mere knowing possession obscene matter constitutional context georgia concedes present case appears one first impression exact point contends since obscenity within area constitutionally protected speech press roth free subject limits provisions constitution see ginsberg new york deal way deemed necessary may deal possession things thought detrimental welfare citizens state protect body citizen may argues georgia protect mind true roth declare seemingly without qualification obscenity protected first amendment statement repeated various forms subsequent cases see smith california jacobellis ohio opinion brennan ginsberg new york supra however neither roth subsequent decision dealt precise problem involved present case roth convicted mailing obscene circulars advertising obscene book violation federal obscenity statute defendant companion case alberts california convicted lewdly keeping sale obscene indecent books writing composing publishing obscene advertisement none statements cited roth proposition always assumed obscenity protected freedoms speech press made context statute punishing mere private possession obscene material cases cited deal part use mails distribute objectionable material form public distribution dissemination moreover none decisions subsequent roth involved prosecution private possession obscene materials cases dealt power state federal governments prohibit regulate certain public actions taken intended taken respect obscene matter indeed one exception unable discover case issue present case fully considered context believe case decided simply citing roth roth progeny certainly mean first fourteenth amendments recognize valid governmental interest dealing problem obscenity assertion interest every context insulated constitutional protections neither roth decision reaches far said roth easeless vigilance watchword prevent erosion first amendment rights congress door barring federal state intrusion area left ajar must kept tightly closed opened slightest crack necessary prevent encroachment upon important interests roth cases following discerned important interest regulation commercial distribution obscene material holding foreclose examination constitutional implications statute forbidding mere private possession material well established constitution protects right receive information ideas freedom speech press necessarily protects right receive martin city struthers see griswold connecticut lamont postmaster general brennan concurring cf pierce society sisters right receive information ideas regardless social worth see winters new york fundamental free society moreover context case prosecution mere possession printed filmed matter privacy person home right takes added dimension also fundamental right free except limited circumstances unwanted governmental intrusions one privacy makers constitution undertook secure conditions favorable pursuit happiness recognized significance man spiritual nature feelings intellect knew part pain pleasure satisfactions life found material things sought protect americans beliefs thoughts emotions sensations conferred government right let alone comprehensive rights right valued civilized man olmstead brandeis dissenting rights appellant asserting case us asserting right read observe pleases right satisfy intellectual emotional needs privacy home asserting right free state inquiry contents library georgia contends appellant rights certain types materials individual may read even possess georgia justifies assertion arguing films present case obscene think mere categorization films obscene insufficient justification drastic invasion personal liberties guaranteed first fourteenth amendments whatever may justifications statutes regulating obscenity think reach privacy one home first amendment means anything means state business telling man sitting alone house books may read films may watch whole constitutional heritage rebels thought giving government power control men minds yet face traditional notions individual liberty georgia asserts right protect individual mind effects obscenity certain argument amounts anything assertion state right control moral content person thoughts may noble purpose wholly inconsistent philosophy first amendment said kingsley international pictures regents argument misconceives constitution protects guarantee confined expression ideas conventional shared majority realm ideas protects expression eloquent less unconvincing cf joseph burstyn wilson relevant obscene materials general particular films arguably devoid ideological content line transmission ideas mere entertainment much elusive draw indeed line drawn see winters new york supra whatever power state control public dissemination ideas inimical public morality constitutionally premise legislation desirability controlling person private thoughts perhaps recognizing georgia asserts exposure obscene materials may lead deviant sexual behavior crimes sexual violence appears little empirical basis assertion important state concerned printed filmed materials inducing antisocial conduct believe context private consumption ideas information adhere view mong free men deterrents ordinarily applied prevent crime education punishment violations law whitney california brandeis concurring see emerson toward general theory first amendment yale given present state knowledge state may prohibit mere possession obscene matter ground may lead antisocial conduct may prohibit possession chemistry books ground may lead manufacture homemade spirits true roth rejected necessity proving exposure obscene material create clear present danger antisocial conduct probably induce recipients conduct case dealt public distribution obscene materials distribution subject different objections example always danger obscene material might fall hands children see ginsberg new york supra might intrude upon sensibilities privacy general public see redrup new york dangers present case finally faced argument prohibition possession obscene materials necessary incident statutory schemes prohibiting distribution argument based alleged difficulties proving intent distribute producing evidence actual distribution convinced difficulties exist even think justify infringement individual right read observe pleases right fundamental scheme individual liberty restriction may justified need ease administration otherwise valid criminal laws see smith california hold first fourteenth amendments prohibit making mere private possession obscene material crime roth cases following decision impaired today holding said retain broad power regulate obscenity power simply extend mere possession individual privacy home accordingly judgment reversed case remanded proceedings inconsistent opinion ordered footnotes appellant argue films obscene purpose opinion assume obscene tests advanced members see redrup new york issue mapp ohio case decided grounds justice stewart although disagreeing majority opinion mapp reversed judgment case ground ohio statute proscribing mere possession obscene material consistent rights free thought expression assured state action fourteenth amendment ex parte jackson use mails chase use mails robertson baldwin publication public clearing house coyne use mails hoke use interstate facilities near minnesota publication chaplinsky new hampshire utterances hannegan esquire use mails winters new york possession intent sell beauharnais illinois libel many cases involved prosecutions sale distribution obscene materials possession intent sell distribute see redrup new york mishkin new york ginzburg jacobellis ohio smith california recent decision involved prosecution sale obscene material children ginsberg new york cf interstate circuit city dallas cases involved federal state statutory procedures preventing distribution mailing obscene material procedures predistribution approval see freedman maryland bantam books sullivan manual enterprises day still another case dealt attempt seize obscene material kept purpose sold published exhibited otherwise distributed circulated marcus search warrant see also quantity books kansas memoirs massachusetts proceeding equity book however possession book determined obscene proceeding made criminal purpose sale loan distribution ohio considered issue state mapp ohio four seven judges felt criminal prosecution mere private possession obscene materials prohibited constitution however ohio law required concurrence one judges declare state law unconstitutional view dissenting judges expressed judge herbert agree mere private possession obscene literature adult constitute crime right individual read believe disbelieve think without governmental supervision one basic liberties dictate mature adult books may private library seems writer clear infringement constitutional rights individual ohio cases dealing nonpublic distribution obscene material legitimate uses obscene material expressed similar reluctance make activity criminal albeit largely statutory grounds chase held federal law make criminal mailing private sealed obscene letter ground law purpose purge mails obscene matter far consistent rights reserved people due regard security private correspondence law later amended include letters sustained form andrews photographs supp denied attempt government confiscate certain materials sought imported institute sex research indiana university found applying roth formulation materials appeal prurient interest seeking import utilize materials thus statute permitting seizure obscene materials applicable found unnecessary reach constitutional questions presented claimant note belief statement roth concerning rejection obscenity must interpreted light widespread distribution material roth see also redmond granted solicitor general motion vacate remand instructions dismiss information charging violation federal obscenity statute case husband wife mailed undeveloped films posing nude firm developing see ackerman cir communities believe act belief obscenity immoral wrong individual place decent society believe adults well children corruptible morals character obscenity source corruption eliminated obscenity suppressed primarily protection others much suppressed purity community salvation welfare consumer obscenity bottom crime obscenity sin henkin morals constitution sin obscenity rev see cairns paul wishner sex censorship assumptions laws empirical evidence rev see also jahoda impact literature psychological discussion assumptions censorship debate summarized concurring opinion judge frank roth cir model penal code provisions dealing obscene materials limited cases commercial dissemination model penal code prop official draft see also model penal code comment tent draft packer limits criminal sanction schwartz morals offenses model penal code rev said way infringes upon power state federal government make possession items narcotics firearms stolen goods crime holding present case turns upon georgia statute infringement fundamental liberties protected first fourteenth amendments first amendment rights involved statutes making mere possession criminal mean express opinion statutes making criminal possession types printed filmed recorded materials see makes criminal otherwise lawful possession materials possessor reason believe used injury advantage foreign nation cases compelling reasons may exist overriding right individual possess materials justice black concurring agree mere possession reading matter movie films whether labeled obscene made crime state without violating first amendment made applicable fourteenth reasons belief set many prior opinions example smith california concurring opinion ginzburg dissenting opinion justice stewart justice brennan justice white join concurring result commencement trial case appellant filed motion suppress films evidence upon ground seized violation fourth fourteenth amendments motion denied films admitted evidence trial affirming appellant conviction georgia specifically determined films lawfully seized appellant correctly contends determination clearly wrong established principles constitutional law today disregards preliminary issue hurry move newer constitutional frontiers readily overlook serious inroads upon fourth amendment guarantees countenanced case georgia courts fourth amendment provides warrants shall issue upon probable cause supported oath affirmation particularly describing place searched persons things seized purpose clear precise words guarantee people nation forever secure general searches unrestrained seizures hated hallmark colonial rule notorious writs assistance british crown see stanford texas basic fourth amendment guarantees frustrated present case think manner made pernicious subtlety happened search began perfectly lawful became occasion unwarranted unconstitutional seizure films state federal officers gained admission appellant house authority search warrant issued commissioner warrant described place searched particularity like particularity described things seized equipment records material used derived illegal wagering business warrant issued commissioner apprised adequate probable cause issue doubt therefore agents lawfully present appellant house lawfully authorized search items specified warrant lawfully empowered seize items might find follows therefore agents acting within authority warrant proceeded appellant upstairs bedroom pulled open drawers desk found one drawers gambling material moving picture films warrant gave authority seize films controlling constitutional principle stated two sentences years ago requirement warrants shall particularly describe things seized makes general searches impossible prevents seizure one thing warrant describing another taken nothing left discretion officer executing warrant marron even case rabinowitz emphasized exploratory searches undertaken officers without warrant record presents bald violation basic constitutional rule condone happened invite government official use seemingly precise legal warrant ticket get man home inside launch forth upon unconfined searches indiscriminate seizures armed unbridled illegal power general warrant films seized violation fourth fourteenth amendments inadmissible evidence appellant trial mapp ohio accordingly judgment conviction must reversed premises known springside drive two story residence annex main floor constructed brick frame atlanta fulton county georgia northern district georgia ookmaking records wagering paraphernalia consisting bet slips account sheets recap sheets collection sheets adding machines money used derived wagering business records purchases records real estate bank transactions money derived wagering business property used wagering business used used operation bookmaking business represent fruits bookmaking business operated violation sections irc commissioner less four lengthy detailed affidavits setting grounds affiants reasonable belief appellant engaged illegal gambling enterprise paraphernalia trade concealed house fact almost gambling material actually found bearing course upon validity search constitutionality search depends measure upon brings light byars see warden hayden