United States v. Thirty-Seven Photographs

(Redirected from 402 U.S. 363)


United States v. Thirty-Seven Photographs (1971)
the Supreme Court of the United States
Syllabus
942725United States v. Thirty-Seven Photographs — Syllabusthe Supreme Court of the United States
Court Documents
Concurring Opinions
Harlan
Stewart
Dissenting Opinion
Black

United States Supreme Court

402 U.S. 363

United States  v.  Thirty-Seven Photographs

 Argued: Jan. 20, 1971. --- Decided: May 3, 1971

See 403 U.S. 924, 91 S.Ct. 2221.

Syllabus

Customs agents sezied as obscene photographs possessed by claimant Luros when he returned to this country from Europe on October 24, 1969. Section 1305(a) of 19 U.S.C., pursuant to which the agents acted, prohibits the importation of obscene material, provides for its seizure at any customs office and retention pending the judgment of the district court, and specifies that the collector of customs give information of the seizure to the district attorney, who shall institute forfeiture proceedings. The agents referred the matter to the United States Attorney, who brought forfeiture proceedings on November 6. Luros' answer denied that the photographs were obscene and counterclaimed that § 1305(a) was unconstitutional. He asked for a three-judge court, which on November 20 was ordered to be convened. Following a hearing on January 9, 1970, the court on January 27 held § 1305(a) unconstitutional on the grounds that the statute (1) failed to meet the procedural requirements of Freedman v. Maryland, 380 U.S. 51, 85 S.Ct. 734, 13 L.Ed.2d 649 and (2) was overly broad as including within its ban obscene material for private use, making it invalid under Stanley v. Georgia, 394 U.S. 557, 89 S.Ct. 1243, 22 L.Ed.2d 542. Held: The judgment is reversed and the case remanded. Pp. 367-379.

309 F.Supp. 36, reversed and remanded.

Notes edit

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work of the United States federal government (see 17 U.S.C. 105).

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