State v. Miqdadi

263 N.E.2d 417, 24 Ohio Misc. 46, 53 Ohio Op. 2d 51, 1970 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 237
CourtFranklin County Municipal Court
DecidedApril 23, 1970
DocketNos. 29018 & 29019
StatusPublished

This text of 263 N.E.2d 417 (State v. Miqdadi) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Franklin County Municipal Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Miqdadi, 263 N.E.2d 417, 24 Ohio Misc. 46, 53 Ohio Op. 2d 51, 1970 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 237 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1970).

Opinion

Fais, J.

This matter comes before the court on motions filed by the defendant’s counsel for an order declaring the arrests of November 10, 1969, to be void and invalid. A further request is made to quash the affidavits for such arrests, to quash the arrest warrants issued on said affidavits, and for a final order summarily dismissing the charges against the defendant.

[47]*47The affidavit in case number 29018, filed November 10, 1969, was signed by Thomas McG-overn and charges the defendant with knowingly selling an obscene, lewd, lascivious magazene, to wit: Yol. 1, Coming Together, in violation of R. C. 2905.34.

The affidavit in case number 29019, filed November 10, 1969, was signed by Thomas McGovern and charges the defendant with knowingly selling an obscene, lewd, lascivious magagine, to wit: Boys Together, in violation of R. C. 2905.34.

Both affidavits appear to be in order, and appear to have been properly filed. Subsequent to the filing of the defendant’s motions, a memorandum was filed on behalf of the plaintiff, the state of Ohio. Defendant then filed a reply memorandum. Thereafter, on February 11, 1970, an oral hearing was held and defendant’s counsel offered and introduced evidence in his behalf by calling to the witness stand police officer Thomas McGovern.

In substance, witness McGovern testified under oath that he and officers Craft and Jackson viewed books on display at the defendant’s book store, and after perusing the books, came to a joint conclusion that the magazines named in the affidavits were, in their opinion and in their judgment, “obscene.” All three officers concurred in that judgment. The two magazines in question were introduced into evidence at the hearing, and the court was requested to examine the publications in considering the motions of the defendant.

In the first motion submitted by the defendant, it is urged that this court must quash the affidavits for the reason that the defendant is entitled to a “prior judicial adversary hearing” before the arrest warrant or the arrest takes place. This court has considered the authorities cited by the defendant and agrees with the defendant’s counsel that the cases in the United States Supreme Court, namely, Marcus v. Search Warrants, 376 U. S. 717, and A Quantity of Copies of Books v. Kansas, 378 U. S. 205, each involved the use of search warrants to search for obscene literature. Thus, these two decisions are not precisely in point.

[48]*48A later case decided by the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Drive-In Theatres, Inc., v. Husky, 305 F. Supp. 1232, also considered the question of a “prior adversary hearing” on the question of obscenity. The court held that the “prior adversary hearing” was necessary, in its opinion, before issuance of a warrant, but nowhere in the opinion does the court describe or define the procedure of the suggested “prior adversary hearing.” Therefore, it is left to conjecture and speculation as to what is meant by a “prior adversary hearing.” Upon what basis or under what rule of court or statute would such a procedure be instituted?

Nowhere in the statutes of this state is procedure provided as suggested and requested by the defendant. Likewise, the rules of this court do not provide for “prior judicial adversary proceedings.” Furthermore, this court is not ready or willing to legislate in the field of criminal law procedure, and the suggested practice by the defendant’s counsel will have to come about by an act of the state Legislature. Actually, the defendant herein is requesting preferential treatment, or extra-judicial performance by this court — he is requesting action which is not regularly or ever accorded to an accused person in Ohio. Reported cases in Ohio do not support the defendant’s motion.

Administrative agencies, established by the Legislature, at times, conduct informal hearings on matters to come before them, but these agencies have established and prescribed rules for such investigative inquiries. A court of law cannot act with such informality or conduct its work beyond the authority granted it by the legislative body of the state. This court is not inclined to go beyond its authority granted by the Legislature, to give what amounts to a preference to a person accused of violating R. C. 2905.34.

Other persons accused of the commission of a crime, other than that of obscenity, might well file motions in this court suggesting that the law enforcement officer’s judgment must be questioned and decided before arrest. In other words, a court determination of the officer’s judgment might be raised by any defendant before any arrest [49]*49where the commission of a crime is dependent upon the arresting officer’s judgment.

The procedure requested by the defendant would place the court in the position of a law enforcement officer or agency. That is to say, the defendant requests that the court view the material in question and predetermine its obscenity or lack of obscenity. If the court, in its judgment, finds on such a “hearing” that the material is obscene, then the court says to the officer, “Issue your warrant and arrest the person so accused under R. C. 2905.34.” The court is thus placed in the original position of the police officer. If the court finds there is an absence of obscenity, then the court would say to the officer, “There is no probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed.” This court should never be placed in the position of a law enforcement body such as suggested by “a prior judicial adversary proceeding” under the facts and circumstances presented herein.

Also, this court questions the advocacy rights of parties involved in a so-called “prior judicial adversary proceeding.” In such a proceeding there would be no “parties” for no legal action is pending. What is the position of the court to compel parties to appear, to force or summon the appearance of witnesses, to arbitrarily apply rules of evidence, to hold persons or parties in contempt if this occasion arises, or to act in a purely quasi-judicial capacity. The defendant is requesting a court of law to sit as an agent for the law enforcement agency. Is it not true that the court would be subjecting itself to a non-adversary proceeding, because an “adversary” proceeding implies that there are opposing parties and interests. Certainly, there are no adverse interests in a case which is not filed and regularly placed upon the clerk’s docket.

The defendant and the federal courts use the words “judicial hearing.” What would be the “judicial” character of a judge viewing and passing upon the character of purported obscene material? This court is of the opinion that such action by the court would be without any judicial posture. The court can assume its judicial functions only when an action is pending and the parties are [50]*50properly before it. This court concludes there would be nothing “judicial” and nothing “adversary” about the suggested role of the court in this case. If the defendant is objecting to the judgment of the police officer and contending that the statute is unconstitutional, is not the statute just as “unconstitutional” on the defendant’s standards if the court acts in concert with the officer in expressing a judgment prior to arrest. If the court should proceed as requested by the defendant, the court might become clothed in a cloak of private malice.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

A Quantity of Copies of Books v. Kansas
378 U.S. 205 (Supreme Court, 1964)
Bazzell v. Gibbens
306 F. Supp. 1057 (E.D. Louisiana, 1969)
DRIVE IN THEATRES, INC. v. Huskey
305 F. Supp. 1232 (W.D. North Carolina, 1969)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
263 N.E.2d 417, 24 Ohio Misc. 46, 53 Ohio Op. 2d 51, 1970 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 237, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-miqdadi-ohmunictfrankli-1970.