golden zwickler argued january decided march following reversal state law grounds appellee conviction violating new york statute distributing anonymous handbills connection congressional election appellee sought declaratory judgment district statute unconstitutional appellee alleged intended distribute handbill similar anonymous leaflets connection forthcoming election alleged congressman stand subsequent elections district abstained passing appellee claim declaratory judgment appeal held abstention error remanded case resolution declaratory judgment issue zwickler koota held remand appellee establish elements governing issuance declaratory judgment noting relevant question congressman target appellee handbills meanwhile elected new york remand district without hearing evidence existence elements governing issuance declaratory judgment held essential elements relief existed hen action initiated immaterial congressman candidate concluded statute impinged appellee freedom speech deterring distributing anonymous handbills held field declaratory judgments elsewhere constitutional issues adjudicated except actual cases presenting concrete legal issues since new york statute prohibits anonymous handbills directly pertaining election campaigns wholly conjectural another occasion might arise appellee prosecuted distributing handbills referred complaint sole concern related congressman likely candidate controversy lacked sufficient immediacy reality warrant issuance declaratory judgment pp samuel hirshowitz first assistant attorney general new york argued cause appellant brief louis lefkowitz attorney general brenda soloff assistant attorney general emanuel redfield argued cause filed brief appellee joseph robison beverly coleman filed brief american jewish congress amicus curiae urging affirmance justice brennan delivered opinion case zwickler koota held district eastern district new york erred abstaining deciding whether zwickler appellee instant case entitled declaratory judgment respecting constitutionality new york penal law new york election law remanded district determination question section made crime distribute anonymous literature connection election campaign zwickler convicted violating provision distributing anonymous handbills connection congressional election conviction reversed state law grounds new york appellate term new york appeals affirmed filed memorandum stated constitutional questions reached months thereafter april zwickler brought suit complaint sets forth facts regarding prosecution termination congressman standing criticized anonymous handbill opposing two amendments foreign aid bill complaint alleged congressman become candidate reelection political figure public official many years zwickler desires intends distribute place previously done various places said kings county anonymous leaflet herein described similar anonymous leaflets time election campaign subsequent election campaigns connection election party officials nomination public office party position may occur subsequent said election campaign disclosed argument zwickler koota congressman left house representatives place new york deemed development relevant question whether prerequisites issuance declaratory judgment present noted however probably decision abstain parties addressed district adjudicated question therefore directed remand appellant zwickler must establish elements governing issuance declaratory judgment see also district hearing remand limited largely oral argument counsel testimony taken concerning existence elements governing issuance declaratory judgment held prerequisites declaratory judgment established facts alleged complaint fact congressman original target handbills stand affect question said attempt defendant moot controversy thus abort declaration constitutional invalidity citing circumstance congressman concerning zwickler handbill published since become new york state justice must fail action initiated controversy genuine substantial immediate even though date election literature pertinent already passed fortuitous circumstance candidate relation whose bid office anonymous handbill circulated vindication inched tediously forward removed role target handbill moot plaintiff far broader right general adjudication unconstitutionality complaint prays see reason question zwickler assertion challenged statute currently impinges upon freedom speech deterring distributing anonymous handbills interest well others like anonymity practise free speech political environment persuade us justice plea supp district erred holding zwickler entitled declaratory relief elements essential relief existed hen action initiated proper inquiry whether controversy requisite relief declaratory judgment act existed time hearing remand undertake inquiry federal courts established pursuant article iii constitution render advisory opinions adjudication constitutional issues concrete legal issues presented actual cases abstractions requisite true declaratory judgments field public workers america mitchell difference abstract question controversy contemplated declaratory judgment act necessarily one degree difficult possible fashion precise test determining every case whether controversy basically question case whether facts alleged circumstances show substantial controversy parties adverse legal interests sufficient immediacy reality warrant issuance declaratory judgment maryland casualty pacific coal oil enough say district nevertheless zwickler far broader right general adjudication unconstitutionality interest well others like anonymity practise free speech political environment constitutional question first amendment otherwise must presented context specific live grievance public workers america mitchell supra said power courts ultimately pass upon constitutionality acts congress arises interests litigants require use judicial authority protection actual interference hypothetical threat enough conclude zwickler establish existence time hearing remand elements governing issuance declaratory judgment therefore district dismissed complaint accordingly intimate view upon correctness district holding constitutionality new york statute judgment district reversed case remanded direction enter new judgment dismissing complaint ordered footnotes text handbill follows representative multer explain positions aid nasser september amendment proposed foreign aid bill public law substance cut aid arab republic congressman multer spoke length amendment words urged defeat earnestly stated position based humanitarian instinct congressional record respect following noted congressman multer stand permits diversion funds dictator nasser armaments buildup arab republic also recipient aid communist russia egypt employing technical skills scientists formerly employ nazis congressman multer debated amendment eve summit conference held cairo arab threatening peace near east state israel particular soviet foreign aid bill passed senate amendment sponsored senator abraham ribicoff strongly condemned practices soviet union issue brought conferees much general statement decrying types religious bigotry adopted representative multer praised watered measure house floor stated senate version point finger directly soviet russia version finally adopted think much better one believe instead pointing finger culprit bar world public opinion severely condemned much better congress go record religious persecution wherever may raise ugly head congressional record multer declaratory judgment act expressly provides case actual controversy within jurisdiction upon filing appropriate pleading may declare rights legal relations interested party seeking declaration whether relief sought emphasis added former congressman term office state justice years allegation complaint zwickler might distribute anonymous handbills relating party officials indicate otherwise congressman held elective party position district leader see