ATTORNEY GENERAL vs. A BOOK NAMED "NAKED LUNCH."

BY THE COURT. The book was adjudged obscene in the Superior Court. G. L. c. 272, Sections 28C, 28E, 28F (each inserted by St. 1945, c. 278, Section 1). The Supreme Court of the United States has held that, to justify a holding of obscenity, "three elements must coalesce: it must be established that (a) the dominant theme of the material taken as a whole appeals to a prurient interest in sex; (b) the material is patently offensive because it affronts contemporary community standards . . . and (c) the material is utterly without redeeming social value" (emphasis supplied). A Book Named "John Cleland's Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure" v. Attorney Gen. of Mass. 383 U.S. 413, 418-421 (hereafter referred to as the Memoirs case). "Naked Lunch" may appeal to the prurient interest of deviants and those curious about deviants. To us, it is grossly offensive and is what the author himself says, "brutal, obscene and disgusting."

As to whether the book has any redeeming social value, the record contains many reviews and articles in literary and other publications discussing seriously this controversial book portraying the hallucinations of a drug addict. Thus it appears that a substantial and intelligent group in the community believes the book to be of some literary significance. Although we are not bound by the opinions of others concerning the book, we cannot ignore the serious acceptance of it by so many persons in the literary community. Hence, we cannot say that "Naked Lunch" has no "redeeming social importance in the hands of those who publish or distribute it on the basis of that value." See the Memoirs case at p. 421.

The record does not show that the book has been "commercially exploited for the sake of prurient appeal, to the exclusion of all other values." The question, therefore, is

Page 300

not presented whether the book, or its publication and distribution, are on that account "utterly without redeeming social importance." See the Memoirs case at pp. 420-421, which appears to treat the privilege under the First Amendment of publishing material like this as a qualified privilege which may be lost if abused. See also Ginzburg v. United States, 383 U.S. 463, 467-476; Mishkin v. New York, 383 U.S. 502, 508-512. Cf. Galvin v. New York, N. H. & H. R.R. 341 Mass. 293, 296-298.

The final decree is reversed and a new final decree is to be entered declaring that (without considering whether the book has been commercially exploited for the sake of prurient appeal) the book cannot be declared to be obscene. This new final decree shall be without prejudice to the bringing of new proceedings with respect to this book under the appropriate sections of G. L. c. 272, if it shall appear that, after March 21, 1966, the date of the three recent Supreme Court cases, already cited, any persons have been or are advertising or distributing this book in this Commonwealth in a manner to exploit it for the sake of its possible prurient appeal.

So ordered.

The Chief Justice took no part in the consideration of this case.

REARDON, J. (dissenting) I respectfully dissent from the opinion of the majority. Some general observations are in order as a preface to a statement of my reasons.

1. It is appropriate to note that, since the adoption of the Constitution of Massachusetts in 1780, this court and its judges have been most aware of the responsibility laid upon them by art. 16, Part I, of the Declaration of Rights which provides: "The liberty of the press is essential to the security of freedom in a state: it ought not, therefore, to be restrained in this commonwealth." It was Massachusetts which, in ratifying the Constitution of the United States in 1788, first among the States called for the addition

Page 301

of a Bill of Rights. This call echoed by other ratifying conventions led in December, 1791, to the adoption of the first and the nine succeeding amendments to the Constitution of the United States. [Note Dissent-1] Thus our disinclination to serve as a censor of published material has an historical constitutional foundation which antedates that of any other American tribunal.

One need not agree with the view of Mr. Justice Black that "the Federal Government is without any power whatever under the Constitution to put any type of burden on speech and expression of ideas of any kind," Ginzburg v. United States, 383 U.S. 463, 476, to be able to agree with him that the lot of the judge who is charged with deciding cases such as this would be immeasurably eased were Mr. Justice Black's view that of the majority of his court. [Note Dissent-2] But such is not the fact and we find ourselves again confronted with the troublesome problem of applying G. L. c. 272, Sections 28C-28G.

The task of the appellate judge on the State court in dealing with an allegedly pornographic work is not a happy one in these days. He may personally be of the opinion, also held by some who have written on the subject of pornography, that, were all restraints on publication lifted, levels of public taste would eventually rise and the business of pornography become unprofitable. [Note Dissent-3]

Yet we have, as was so well stated by Chief Justice Qua in Commonwealth v. Isenstadt, 318 Mass. 543, 548, the "plain but not necessarily easy duty to read the words of the statute in the sense in which they were intended, to

Page 302

accept and enforce the public policy of the Commonwealth as disclosed by its policymaking body, whatever our own personal opinions may be, and to avoid judicial legislation in the guise of new constructions to meet real or supposed new popular viewpoints, preserving always to the Legislature alone its proper prerogative of adjusting the statutes to changed conditions." In construing the present statute we are given added guidance by A Book Named "John Cleland's Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure" v. Attorney Gen. of Mass. 383 U.S. 413, 413-462 (hereafter Memoirs), decided since this case was argued before us. The majority opinion in that case set forth G. L. c. 272, Sections 28B-28F, inclusive, in full in an appendix without comment. It is reasonable to conclude that the Supreme Court of the United States acknowledges authority in those sections of that statute, subject to their application within the guidelines which the majority in the Memoirs case laid down. [Note Dissent-4]

It is thus my view that there is still power resident in the statute and I believe that the Commonwealth is entitled to have this court enforce what power it still contains. Failure to do so in this case consigns our State law in this field to a limbo and is, in fact, a contravention of the will of the Legislature on the supposed basis that the statute has been overridden by the Memoirs case. I do not so read that case.

2. Consonant with the duty laid upon us by the statute, I have read the book and found it to be a revolting miasma of unrelieved perversion and disease, graphically described in the findings of the trial judge. It is, in truth, literary sewage. Before the trial judge a number of authors and academic witnesses, as well as several psychiatrists, on behalf of the interveners gave varying testimony regarding the social and literary worth of the book and engaged in efforts to interpret its title. Despite the testimony of these witnesses, the trial judge, on the basis of a national standard,

Page 303

found the book to be patently offensive, "predominantly prurient, hard-core pornography, and utterly without redeeming social importance."

It has been argued by the intervener that, in assessing the social importance of the book, the judge was bound to abide by those opinions which came to him in the testimony of the witnesses whom he heard and in the reviews which were presented to him as exhibits. Indeed it was stated in a dissent in Attorney Gen. v. A Book Named "John Cleland's Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure," 349 Mass. 69, 75, when that book was before us: "It is not the court's function to consider whether to agree or disagree with the appraisal of the book by academic witnesses. The controlling circumstance is that the work is evaluated by representative scholars and teachers of English literature as a work of some literary and historical significance notwithstanding its patently pornographic aspects." And in the majority opinion in the case at bar, it is said, on "whether the book has any redeeming social value, the record contains many reviews and articles in literary and other publications discussing seriously this controversial book portraying the hallucinations of a drug addict. Thus it appears that a substantial and intelligent group in the community believes the book to be of some literary significance. Although we are not bound by the opinions of others concerning the book, we cannot ignore the serious acceptance of it by so many persons in the literary community. Hence, we cannot say that `Naked Lunch' has no `redeeming social importance in the hands of those who publish or distribute it on the basis of that value.'"

I cannot associate myself with this view. Our experience with allegedly pornographic works over the years here in Massachusetts has revealed that there is no dearth of experts ready to leap to the defence of such of them as have come under scrutiny from time to time. [Note Dissent-5] As one looks back

Page 304

now on publications which have been considered in other years, it is plain to see that much material there defended was shoddy stuff on any standard. Much indeed depends upon the identity and quality of the witnesses and the substance of their testimony but the mere appearance of such witnesses does not compel the trial judge or us to surrender the power of judgment into their hands. [Note Dissent-6] Surely the finding of fact by a trial judge seasoned by years of experience in dealing with social values and their implementation, as well as social ills and their remedies under the law, is entitled to more weight before us than are the opinions of the witnesses who were before him, whom he saw, and whom he heard render judgments which became weak in deed under examination as the record well demonstrates. [Note Dissent-7]

Page 305

What has been said relative to the witnesses who were heard may also be said of reviews discussing this work, some of which are in the record. Not all of them were favorable. A number of them were concerned principally with the question whether "Naked Lunch" was more calculated to produce titillation or nausea. One of them stated that "the book is as obscene as anything ever written. [Note Dissent-8] Only two of these reviewers were before the trial judge. Names were appended to the reviews but no matter how extensive the reputations of the absent reviewers there was no opportunity to cross-examine them regarding their respective comments. Here again, relative to the reviews, it is my belief that this court should not abdicate its responsibility.

Page 306

I conclude, therefore, that in the case on appeal of a suit brought by the Attorney General under G. L. c. 272, Section 28C, the findings of the trial judge are entitled to more weight than has been accorded to them by the majority opinion. [Note Dissent-9]

3. In the majority opinion there is a concession that the book "may appeal to the prurient interest of deviants and those curious about deviants." It calls the book "grossly offensive" and concurs with what the author himself said about it, that it is "brutal, obscene, and disgusting." [Note Dissent-10] Having stated that it cannot be said that the book has no redeeming social importance, the opinion goes on to say that the record fails to show a commercial exploitation for the "sake of prurient appeal, to the exclusion of all other values" and states that the question is not presented whether "the book, or its publication and distribution, are on that account `utterly without redeeming social importance.'"

The majority, unmindful of the order of events, hold that the absence of evidence of commercial exploitation in this record requires a reversal of the trial court, and note that in the Memoirs case Mr. Justice Brennan said that evidence of such commercial exploitation might justify the conclusion that the book was utterly without redeeming social importance.

The trial judge filed his findings of material facts and order for decree on March 23, 1965. A final decree was entered and the intervener appealed on March 25, 1965. Argument was heard before us on October 8, 1965, and we have since had the case under consideration awaiting clarification of the law from the Supreme Court of the United States. On December 7 and 8, 1965, the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral argument on the Memoirs case, Ginzburg v. United States, and Mishkin v. New York. On March 21, 1966, the Justices of the Supreme Court of the

Page 307

United States handed down their opinions in these three cases. [Note Dissent-11] The law regarding obscenity, in the light of which both Attorney Gen. v. A Book Named "John Cleland's Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure," 349 Mass. 69, and the instant case had been earlier decided, was thus redefined, the facet of commercial exploitation being added to the test of obscenity established in Roth v. United States, 354 U.S. 476, 484, 487. [Note Dissent-12] This additional facet naturally was not explored in the hearings in this case before the trial judge. In my view, before a final decision is made by this court, it should be.

In Rosenblatt v. Baer, 383 U.S. 75, 87-88, the Supreme Court of the United States noted that its decision in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254, had intervened between the Rosenblatt trial and the decision on the appeal, and that the New York Times decision bore directly on the applicable law and upon Baer's failure to adduce certain evidence in addition to that which he had adduced. On this ground the Supreme Court of the United States remanded the matter to the State court for further proceedings. In other words, there was redefinition of the law while the case was on appeal. The Supreme Court recognized this and remanded. We should do no less.

It is my belief that the Attorney General did not waive the right of the Commonwealth to raise the newly announced issue of commercial exploitation by not presenting such evidence in the court below. I cannot agree with any inference in the majority opinion that such a waiver has occurred. It might be argued that one reason for applying

Page 308

the doctrine of waiver to affirm or reverse on the basis of a trial court judgment despite a change or further elaboration in the law during the taking of the appeal is to prevent the occurrence of excessive delay and expense for litigants and other interested parties, but "[b]alanced against this policy of efficiency in the judicial process is the objective of settling disputes correctly in light of existing law . . .." Note, Waiver: Limitation on Intervening-Change-in-the-Law Exception, 18 Stanford L. Rev. 718, 719. [Note Dissent-13]

There is much more to be said for a remand of this case for the taking of further evidence than for a reversal. A reversal, as the majority opinion points out, does not necessarily end all action on the book nor does it provide a salutary precedent for later cases brought under the statute. The Attorney General is free to begin again. To remand the matter for a hearing on advertising would eliminate the likelihood of a complete retrial on all points in the event that the Attorney General desires to take new action in the light of the Memoirs decision. [Note Dissent-14] There appears to be no question in the minds of the majority in this case or the majority of the Supreme Court of the United States in the Memoirs case that litigation of this new issue of the manner of commercial presentation could change the result. The record indicates the possibility of proof by the Commonwealth on remand that "exploitation for the sake of prurient appeal" has occurred. It will be remembered that the author himself, who presumably wrote his book for sale, termed it "obscene" in his foreword. In addition, exhibit 20, the New York Times Book Review section of January 10, 1965, which was before the trial judge, contains an

Page 309

advertisement in which this work is offered in tandem with another book which was titled "Ananga Ranga `The Oriental Art of Love,'" for sale at a price for both of $7.95 plus a mailing charge. [Note Dissent-15] The books are advertised as "Not for minors -- for adults only," and "Naked Lunch . . . Exactly as printed in Paris by the Olympia Press," is called "a literary masterpiece by some, a piece of pornography by others . . . Shocking! Startling! . . . Definitely not for the squeamish . . . A searing experience." This language strongly suggests an endeavor to induce purchase through the very type of appeal which was alluded to by Mr. Justice Brennan in his discussion of commercial exploitation in the Memoirs case. [Note Dissent-16]

Other jurisdictions recognize that a change in the law during the pendency of an appeal may require a rehearing of the cases affected. [Note Dissent-17] There is no sound reason why the policy of ordering a rehearing should not apply here in favor of the Commonwealth which has spoken in the statute and with a voice we are bound to heed in applying it. Massachusetts precedent exists to the effect that this court will notice changes in the law intervening between trial and decision upon appeal. In Pilgrim v. MacGibbon, 313 Mass. 290, 298, where the judge had entered verdicts for the defendants after a jury had found for the plaintiff, we were asked to consider the effect of a Nova Scotia case, decided

Page 310

after the trial, which clarified the standard of gross negligence in the governing Nova Scotia statute. The law had not changed with regard to relevant evidence; rather the standard to be applied to facts already in evidence had been reformulated in Nova Scotia where the cause of action arose. In the light of the reformulation we considered the evidence and ordered judgments for the plaintiff on the verdicts of the jury, saying, "We think it is apparent that the trial judge did not have the benefit of the decision in the . . . [intervening] case. Nevertheless, it must be held to govern the rights of the parties . . ." (p. 298).

Furthermore, even in the absence of a change in the applicable law, there is a strong public policy in this Commonwealth for remanding causes for the taking of supplementary evidence where the ends of justice will thus be best served. Examples are not wanting. "Where the facts on which the rights of the parties depend have not been ascertained at the trial it is within the power of the court in its discretion and of its own motion, to recommit the case for retrial." Comstock v. Soule, 303 Mass. 153, 159. See New England Cement Gun Co. v. McGivern, 218 Mass. 198, 205; Rubenstein v. Lottow, 220 Mass. 156, 164; Rioux v. Cronin, 222 Mass. 131, 133. "We are aided in reaching this result because it is apparent . . . that findings relative to . . . [the issue] could have been made." Watkins v. Simplex Time Recorder Co. 316 Mass. 217, 225. Minot v. Minot, 319 Mass. 253, 258-260. Smith v. Commonwealth, 331 Mass. 585, 593-594, and cases cited. American Employers' Ins. Co. v. Cohen, 334 Mass. 417, 421, and cases cited. Frank v. Frank, 335 Mass. 130, 136-137.

4. Finally, I cannot agree with the majority in their view that if any future proceedings are launched against the book evidence against it relative to the manner in which it was advertised and sold is to be limited to such promotional activity as has occurred since March 21, 1966, the date on which the three recent cases in the Supreme Court of the United States came down. That court itself imposed no such limitation in the Memoirs case nor in upholding the

Page 311

conviction of Ginzburg. The establishment by this court of such a dividing line is a curious application of the Memoirs case holding. If we seek an answer to the nature of the book, how it was advertised prior to the magic date is equally pertinent to that determination as the manner in which it has been advertised since.

5. In sum, it is my view that this book should not be allowed to slide by the statutory prohibitions on the grounds set forth in the majority opinion. We should not cease in our endeavor to uphold our own statute when it still possesses some vitality. In the light of the findings of the trial judge and the foregoing discussion I would remand this matter to the Superior Court for the limited purpose of taking evidence on the manner in which this book was produced, publicized, and sold.

KIRK, J. I agree with the characterization of the book by the judge, the majority and by Mr. Justice Reardon in his dissent. I join in the dissent in so far as it rejects the proposition that a trial judge must treat the opinion of a witness in this or any proceeding as valid, binding or decisive of the case. Acceptance of the proposition is a surrender of the judicial function to absolutism.