smith california argued october decided december appellant proprietor bookstore convicted violating city ordinance construed state courts making absolutely liable criminally mere possession store book later judicially determined obscene even knowledge contents book held thus construed applied ordinance violates freedom press safeguarded due process clause fourteenth amendment invasion state action pp free publication dissemination books obviously within constitutionally protected freedom press retail bookseller plays significant role distribution books legal devices doctrines applications consistent constitution may constitutionally capable application application effect inhibiting freedom expression making persons reluctant exercise pp obscene expression constitutionally protected ordinance imposes unconstitutional limitation public access constitutionally protected matter bookseller criminally liable without knowledge contents tend restrict books sells inspected thus restriction imposed upon distribution constitutionally protected well obscene books pp existence state power prevent distribution obscene matter mean constitutional barrier form practical exercise power hence may difficulty enforcing regulation distribution obscene literature booksellers may held absolute criminal liability require different result pp stanley fleishman sam rosenwein argued cause filed brief appellant roger arnebergh argued cause appellee brief philip grey wirin fred okrand filed brief american civil liberties union amicus curiae urging reversal justice brennan delivered opinion appellant proprietor bookstore convicted california municipal los angeles city ordinance makes unlawful person possession obscene indecent writing book place business books sold kept sale offense defined municipal appellate department superior affirmed municipal judgment imposing jail sentence appellant consisting solely possession appellant bookstore certain book found upon judicial investigation obscene definition included element scienter knowledge appellant contents book thus ordinance construed imposing strict absolute criminal liability appellant made timely objection ordinance construed conflict constitution contention together contentions based constitution rejected case comes appeal almost years ago chief justice hughes declared longer open doubt liberty press speech within liberty safeguarded due process clause fourteenth amendment invasion state action found impossible conclude essential personal liberty citizen left unprotected general guaranty fundamental rights person property near minnesota familiar citation doctrine respect freedoms ever since also requires elaboration free publication dissemination books forms printed word furnish familiar applications constitutionally protected freedoms course matter dissemination takes place commercial auspices see joseph burstyn wilson grosjean american press certainly retail bookseller plays significant role process distribution books california imposed strict absolute criminal responsibility appellant obscene books shop existence mens rea rule rather exception principles criminal jurisprudence dennis still doubtless competent create strict criminal liabilities defining criminal offenses without element scienter though even question involved precedent power without limitations see lambert california question validity ordinance elimination scienter requirement elimination may tend work substantial restriction freedom speech press decisions furnish examples legal devices doctrines applications consistent constitution applied settings collateral effect inhibiting freedom expression making individual reluctant exercise generally may regulate allocation burden proof courts common procedural device impose taxpayer burden proving entitlement exemptions taxation conceived device applied manner tending cause even restriction free expression struck application speiser randall see near minnesota supra stated usual doctrines separability constitutional unconstitutional applications statutes may apply effect leave standing statute patently capable many unconstitutional applications threatening validly exercise rights free expression expense inconvenience criminal prosecution thornhill alabama cf staub city baxley intimated stricter standards permissible statutory vagueness may applied statute potentially inhibiting effect speech man may less required act peril free dissemination ideas may loser winters new york much point question elimination mental element offense holding wieman updegraff oath past freedom membership subversive organizations exacted state qualification public employment held violate constitution made distinction members known organization character said elimination scienter context thus inhibit individual freedom movement stifle flow democratic expression controversy one chief sources principles guide us decision held obscene speech writings protected constitutional guarantees freedom speech press roth ordinance question sure imposes criminal sanctions bookseller fact found shop obscene book holding roth recognize state power restrict dissemination books obscene think ordinance strict liability feature tend seriously effect penalizing booksellers even though slightest notice character books sold appellee analogize strict liability penal ordinance familiar forms penal statutes dispense element knowledge part person charged food drug legislation principal example find analogy instructive examination question us usual rationale statutes public interest purity food great warrant imposition highest standard care distributors fact absolute standard hear distributor plea amount care used cf balint ignorance character food irrelevant specific constitutional inhibition making distributors food strictest censors merchandise constitutional guarantees freedom speech press stand way imposing similar requirement bookseller dispensing requirement knowledge contents book part seller ordinance tends impose severe limitation public access constitutionally protected matter bookseller criminally liable without knowledge contents ordinance fulfills purpose tend restrict books sells inspected thus state imposed restriction upon distribution constitutionally protected well obscene literature well observed statute construed dispensing requirement scienter every bookseller placed obligation make aware contents every book shop altogether unreasonable demand near approach omniscience king ewart bookseller burden become public burden restricting public access reading matter restricted contents bookshops periodical stands restricted material proprietors made inspection might depleted indeed bookseller limitation amount reading material familiarize timidity face absolute criminal liability thus tend restrict public access forms printed word state constitutionally suppress directly bookseller compelled state censorship affecting whole public hardly less virulent privately administered distribution books obscene obscene impeded argued unless scienter requirement dispensed regulation distribution obscene material ineffective booksellers falsely disclaim knowledge books contents falsely deny reason suspect obscenity might observe time since law viewed impotent explore actual state man mind see pound role law harv rev cf american communications assn douds eyewitness testimony bookseller perusal book hardly need necessary element proving awareness contents circumstances may warrant inference aware book contained despite denial need definitely pass today sort mental element requisite constitutionally permissible prosecution bookseller carrying obscene book stock whether honest mistake whether contents fact constituted obscenity need excuse whether might circumstances state constitutionally might require bookseller investigate might put burden explaining circumstances might doubtless form criminal obscenity statute applicable bookseller induce tendency inhibitory effect dissemination material obscene consider today one goes extent eliminating mental elements crime said fundamental freedoms speech press contributed greatly development free society indispensable continued growth ceaseless vigilance watchword prevent erosion congress door barring federal state intrusion area left ajar must kept tightly closed opened slightest crack necessary prevent encroachment upon important interests roth supra ordinance opens door far existence state power prevent distribution obscene matter mean constitutional barrier form practical exercise power cf dean milk city madison plain us ordinance question though aimed obscene matter tendency inhibit constitutionally protected expression stand constitution reversed footnotes sort proceeding highest state decision cal art vi see edwards california see hall general principles criminal law appellate department opinion cal app supp ordinance elimination scienter fact reason assigned upholding permissible supplementary municipal legislation contention field occupied california penal code obscenity statute requires scienter contentions made evidence nature constitutionally required allowed given defense obscene character book permitted introduced constitutionally impermissible standard obscenity applied trier facts book fact obscene light determination constitutional permissibility strict liability law circumstances presented case need pass questions purposes discussion shall assume without deciding book correctly adjudged obscene see also williams criminal law general part et seq see note harv rev roth opinion also decided alberts california dealt power area effectiveness absolute criminal liability laws promoting caution subjected criticism see hall general principles criminal law pp see generally williams criminal law general part pp sayre public welfare offenses rev mueller common law mens rea rev morissette prosecutions dissemination obscene matter strictly adhered requirement scienter see discussion attorney general simpson irish dist cf obscene publications act eliz american law institute model penal code tentative draft may comments pp general california obscenity statute penal code requires scienter see note course sustained us roth supra see note emphasized roth limited area interests prevail listed representative decisions note page justice black concurring appellant sentenced prison possessing bookstore obscene book violation los angeles city ordinance concur judgment holding ordinance unconstitutional reasons given opinion invalidates ordinance solely penalizes bookseller mere possession obscene book even though unaware obscenity grounds draws constitutional distinction law punishes possession book knowledge obscenity law punishes without knowledge persuasive grounds conviction bookseller possession obscene book unaware obscenity tend restrict books sells inspected therefore may tend work substantial restriction freedom speech fact course prison sentences possession obscene books seriously burden freedom press whether punishment imposed without knowledge obscenity opinion correctly points little extra burden imposed prosecutors requiring proof bookseller aware book contents possessed constitution requirement knowledge easily met result case one particular bookseller gains freedom way left open state censorship punishment booksellers merely adding new words old censorship laws constitutional safeguards speech press therefore gain little victory pyrrhic one cf beauharnais illinois dissenting opinion apparently intended leave way open federal state governments abridge speech press extent approves also indicated following statements opinion door barring federal state intrusion area freedom speech press left ajar must kept tightly closed opened slightest crack necessary prevent encroachment upon important interests ordinance opens door far statement raises number questions important interests protection constitutional freedom speech press must given second place standard one determine abridgment speech press goes far slight enough constitutionally allowable momentous decision left majority basis express provision provisions constitution put freedom speech press precarious position subordination insecurity certainly first amendment language leaves room inference abridgments speech press made slight amendment provides simple words congress shall make law abridging freedom speech press read law abridging mean law abridging first amendment law land thus fixed value freedom speech press putting freedoms wholly beyond reach federal power abridge provision constitution purports dilute scope unequivocal commands first amendment consequently believe federal agencies including congress power authority subordinate speech press think important interests contrary notion judgment state intrusion abridgment freedom speech press raises different question since first amendment terms refers laws passed congress adhere prior decisions holding fourteenth amendment made first applicable see cases collected concurring opinion speiser randall follows reversing case believe los angeles ordinance sets censorship violation first fourteenth amendments seems way national censorship think timely suggest grave doubts mind desirability constitutionality becoming board censors reading books viewing television performances determine whether permitted might adversely affect morals people throughout many diversified local communities vast country true ordinance face applicable obscene indecent writing also true particular kind censorship considered many obnoxious thing mildest least repulsive form illegitimate unconstitutional practices get first footing way duty courts watchful constitutional rights citizen stealthy encroachments thereon boyd obscenity indecency us today experience mankind ancient modern shows type elastic phrase likely synonymous political maybe religious unorthodoxy tomorrow censorship deadly enemy freedom progress plain language constitution forbids protest judiciary giving foothold shown note opinion ordinance makes unlawful possess places defined obscene indecent writing book pamphlet picture photograph drawing figure motion picture film phonograph recording wire recording transcription kind another concurring opinion said wrong james madison thomas jefferson attribute view first amendment places speech wholly beyond reach federal government course men made many statements subject freedom speech press long lives one define precise views complete certainty however several statements madison jefferson indicate may held view concurring opinion terms doctrinaire absolutism james madison exploring sweep first amendment limitation federal government offered bill rights congress reported said right freedom speech secured liberty press expressly declared beyond reach government emphasis supplied annals cong reports discussions madison see pp eleven years later wrote without tracing farther evidence subject seem scarcely possible doubt power whatever press supposed delegated constitution originally stood amendment intended positive absolute reservation madison writings hunt ed see generally thomas jefferson views breadth first amendment prohibition abridgment speech press federal government illustrated following statement made first amendment thereby guard sentence words freedom religion speech press insomuch whatever violates either throws sanctuary covers others libels falsehood defamation equally heresy false religion withheld cognizance federal tribunals jefferson writings ford ed another early discussion scope first amendment complete bar federal abridgment speech press see george tucker comments adequacy state forums state laws grant protection needed defamation libel blackstone commentaries tucker ed course neither jefferson madison faced problem case fourteenth amendment passed prohibitions first amendment held applicable time jefferson madison lived fourteenth amendment passed first amendment prohibit abridging free speech enactment defamation libel laws cf barron baltimore pet meaning first amendment understood two renowned constitutional architects jefferson madison important case prior cases holding fourteenth amendment applies first force brings bear federal government see west virginia state board education barnette cases collected speiser randall concurring opinion see beauharnais illinois dissenting opinions kingsley international pictures regents university new york concurring opinion views concurring opinion accepted make still inappropriate board censors whole country opinion conceding external measuring rod obscenity argues constitution requires issue obscenity determined basis contemporary community standards literary psychological moral standards community argued concurring opinion violates federal constitution local reject evidence experts contemporary community standards vague word obscenity seems odd say final word community standards believe words liberty due process fourteenth amendment give much power justice frankfurter concurring appellant convicted violating city ordinance los angeles prohibiting possession obscene books bookshop conviction affirmed highest california appeal judgment asked reverse appellant claims three grounds invalidity due process clause fourteenth amendment urges invalidity ordinance abridgment freedom speech guarantee liberty fourteenth amendment safeguards state action reason california law holds bookseller criminally liable possessing obscene book wholly apart scienter part regarding book obscenity second constitutional infirmity urged appellant exclusion appropriately offered testimony duly qualified witnesses regarding prevailing literary standards literary moral criteria books relevantly comparable book controversy deemed obscene exclusion deprived appellant claim important relevant testimony bearing issue obscenity therefore restricted making defense appellant ultimate contention questioned book obscene bookseller possession forbidden reach neither issue obscenity disposes case exclusively sustaining appellant claim liberty protected due process clause fourteenth amendment precludes state making dissemination obscene books offense merely book bookshop found obscene without proof bookseller knowledge touching obscenity contents accepts settled principle constitutional law traffic obscene literature may outlawed crime holds one made amenable criminal outlawry unless chargeable knowledge obscenity obviously holding bookseller must familiarize contents every book shop less obviously hold bookseller insulates knowledge offending book thereby free maintain emporium smut much little awareness book may found obscene suffices establish scienter kind evidence may satisfy much little leaves another day friend deciding case beyond immediate controversy requires particularly limits constitutional power stake hand case case inevitably disposition carries implications gives directions beyond particular facts holding kind prosecution obscenity requires proof guilty mind associated concept crimes deemed infamous elucidation needed requirement scienter obscenity cases plays role different normal role mens rea definition crime different problem confronts assume requirement scienter obscenity prosecution like one us mean bookseller must read book must substantially know contents one hand exculpate studious avoidance knowledge contents submit invalidating obscenity statute state dispenses altogether requirement scienter require indication scope quality scienter required least made clear left future litigation decision practical effect intended nullify conceded power state prohibit booksellers trafficking obscene literature course important difference scope power state regulate feeds belly feeds brain doctrine balint appropriate limits rule scienter required prosecutions public welfare offenses limitation general principle awareness one prerequisite infliction punishment see morissette balance struck vital principle overriding public menace inherent trafficking noxious food drugs carried balancing vital role free speech society interest dealing pornography hand constitutional protection speech absorb constitutional power deal obscenity certainly wrong attribute jefferson madison doctrinaire absolutism bar legal restriction obscenity denial free speech yet told laws defamation inciting crime speech see fox washington unconstitutional impermissible curbs upon unrestrictable utterance know jefferson view view holmes brandeis originating architects prevailing constitutional law protective freedom speech accordingly proof scienter required make prosecutions obscenity constitutional nature nullify practical purposes power state deal obscenity regard state interest suggests unguiding vague standard establishing awareness bookseller contents challenged book contradiction disclaimer knowledge contents bookseller may course well aware nature book appeal without opened cover true sense knowledge book practical matter therefore exercise constitutional right state regulate obscenity carry hazard dissemination bookseller literature difficulties hazards inherent many domains law simple reason law avail factors ascertained quantitatively even wholly impersonally uncertainties pertaining scope scienter requisite obscenity prosecution speculative proof issue likely entail considerations reinforce right one charged obscenity right implicit nature legal concept obscenity enlighten judgment tribunal jury case judge regarding prevailing literary moral community standards qualified experts immaterial whether basis exclusion testimony irrelevance incompetence experts testify matters two reasons coalesce community standards psychological physiological consequences questioned literature matter fact hardly established except experts therefore exclude expert testimony effect exclude irrelevant evidence goes essence defense therefore constitutional safeguards due process determination obscenity doubt rests judge jury course testimony experts displace judge jury determining ultimate question whether particular book obscene testimony experts relating state art patent suits determines patentability controverted device external measuring rod obscenity neither hand ascertainment merely subjective reflection taste moral outlook individual jurors individual judges since law functionaries applying contemporary community standards determining constitutes obscenity roth surely must deemed rational therefore relevant issue obscenity allow light shed contemporary community standards interpretation depend solely necessarily limited subjective view believed individual juror judge bears repetition determination obscenity juror judge basis personal upbringing restricted reflection particular experience life basis contemporary community standards doubted great difference deemed obscene compared deemed obscene difference derives shift community feeling regarding deemed prurient prurient reason effects attributable particular writing changes intellectual moral climate society part doubtless due views findings specialists afford shifting foundations attribution may well consonant morals seem answer understanding morality present time kennerley view judge learned hand decades ago reflecting atmosphere propriety much closer days unless disbelieve literary psychological moral standards community made fruitful illuminating subjects inquiry give life inquiries violative due process exclude constitutionally relevant evidence proffered case importance type evidence prosecutions obscenity impressively attested recent debates house commons dealing insertion provision enactment obscene publications act eliz ch see parliamentary debates december cols parliamentary debates april well considered thinking subject proposed model penal code american law institute see model penal code tentative draft reasons indicated make right introduce evidence requirement due process obscenity prosecutions publication obscene printed matter clearly established offense england case rex curl str overruled reg read mod held offenses exclusively within jurisdiction ecclesiastical courts see also rex wilkes burr liability carried across atlantic established appears early new york copyright act specifically stated nothing act shall authorise person persons publish book may profane treasonable defamatory injurious government morals religion act promote literature act april liv iv laws new york jones varick pennsylvania prosecution founded liability commonwealth sharpless serg rawle maryland statute regulating obscene publications enacted recited although judgment legislature advertisements publications contra bonos mores punishable common law desirable common law regard enforced act may md laws moreover early eleventh year reign queen anne well jurisdiction common law emerged england massachusetts enacted statute provided hat whosoever shall convicted composing writing printing publishing filthy obscene prophane song pamphlet shall punished acts charter province unclear whether prosecution massachusetts commonwealth holmes mass founded statute liability although judicial indicated regarded early statute effect successor enactment revised statutes commonwealth massachusetts commonwealth isenstadt mass see also grant angoff massachusetts censorship iii rev thereafter offense made statutory see act march viii laws act may laws maryland act april stat large section act provides person shall convicted offense act proved publication article question justified public good ground interests science literature art learning objects general concern hereby declared opinion experts literary artistic scientific merits article may admitted proceedings act either establish negative said ground subsection draft section provides part prosecution offense section evidence shall admissible show character audience material designed directed predominant appeal material ordinary adults special audience effect probably behavior people artistic literary scientific educational merits material degree public acceptance material country appeal prurient interest absence thereof advertising promotion material expert testimony testimony author creator publisher relating factors entering determination issue obscenity shall admissible justice douglas concurring need repeat said dissent roth underline conviction neither author distributor book punished bill rights publishing distributing notion obscene publications utterances included free speech developed country much later adoption first amendment judicial legislative developments country show leading authorities subject summarized matter follows civil war reported decisions involving obscene literature course indication literature circulation time persistence pornography entirely strong warrant inference indication people time totally indifferent proprieties literature read nathaniel hawthorne scarlet letter bitterly attacked immoral book degraded literature encouraged social licentiousness lack cases merely means problem obscene literature thought sufficient importance justify arousing forces state censorship lockhart mcclure literature law obscenity constitution rev freedom expression suppressed extent closely brigaded illegal action inseparable part giboney empire storage labor board virginia power people afford relax standard test suppresses cheap tract today suppress literary gem tomorrow need incite lascivious thought arouse lustful desire list books judges juries place category endless see chafee free speech pp lockhart mcclure literature law obscenity constitution rev daniels censorship books et seq blanshard right read et seq fellman censorship books see new american library world literature allen supp justice harlan concurring part dissenting part striking local legislation always serious business opinion roth case expressed view state power obscenity field wider scope federal power question whether scienter constitutionally required element criminal obscenity statute intimately related constitutional scope power bar material obscene impact requirement effective prosecution may one thing scope power proscribe broad quite another scope narrow proof scienter may entail great burden case obviously obscene material may however become difficult character material debatable view scienter question involves considerations different order depending whether state federal statute involved state ordinance meagre data us reach question whether absence scienter element renders ordinance unconstitutional must say however generalities opinion striking ordinance leave unconvinced point view free dissemination constitutionally protected ideas invalidates ordinance ground effect may induce booksellers restrict offerings nonobscene literary merchandise fear prosecution unwittingly shelves obscene publication point view state interest protecting citizens dissemination obscene material effect says proving state man mind little difficult proving state digestion also intimates relaxed standard mens rea satisfy constitutional requirements rough balancing competing interests stake balancing unavoidably required kind constitutional adjudication notwithstanding arises domain liberty speech press critical appraisal sides constitutional balance possible meagre material us seems required ordinance struck ground concurring opinions brothers black frankfurter show conclusion ordinance one embodying element scienter likely restrict dissemination legitimate literature seems dialectical real also persuaded ordinance question unconstitutionally applied instance merely state refusal admit expert testimony agree brother frankfurter trier obscenity case must take account contemporary community standards roth means regardless elements offense state law fourteenth amendment permit conviction obtained unless work complained found substantially exceed limits candor set contemporary community standards community liberty speech press issue condemn generally tolerates follows due process using term primary sense opportunity heard defend substantive right hill requires state allow litigant manner introduce proof score state debarred regarding trier fact embodiment community standards competent judge challenged work standards privileged rebuff efforts enlighten persuade trier however hold particular kind evidence must admitted specifically constitution requires oral opinion testimony experts heard ways proof made case demonstrates appellant attempted compare contents work allegedly similar publications openly published sold purchased received wide general acceptance variety means even though may considered expert testimony convenient practicable method proof think going far say method constitutionally compelled state may conclude reasons responsive traditional doctrines evidence law issue community standards may subject expert testimony know case constitutional grounds required state sanction particular mode proof opinion conviction fatally defective trial judge read record turned aside every attempt appellant introduce evidence bearing community standards exclusionary rulings limited offered expert testimony effect depriving appellant opportunity offer proof constitutionally relevant issue ground reverse judgment remand case new trial concerned instance objection book portrays teaches cf kingsley pictures regents notable expression limitation judge learned hand kennerley abstract definition word obscene allowed indicate present critical point compromise candor shame community may arrived see also exposition view american law institute model penal code tentative draft may roth case embodies restriction see see separate opinion view course mean issue tried according personal standards judge jury