United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Byrne v. Karalexis, 401 U.S. 216 (1971)

Byrne v. Karalexis

No. 83

Argued April 30, 1970

Reargued November 17, 1970

Decided February 23, 1971

401 U.S. 216

Syllabus

Appellees, indicted for violating the Massachusetts obscenity law as a result of exhibiting the film, "I am Curious (Yellow)," brought this action in the federal district court for an injunction against the enforcement of the statute and for a declaration of its unconstitutionality. A three-judge District Court, holding that appellees might be irreparably injured if unable to show the film, granted injunctive relief.

Held: The District Court made no finding that the threat to appellees' federally protected rights "[could] not be eliminated by [their] defense against a single criminal prosecution," to meet the great and immediate irreparable injury requirement of Younger v. Harris, ante, p. 401 U. S. 37, at 401 U. S. 46, before a federal injunction of state criminal proceedings can properly issue. The judgment is therefore vacated, and the case remanded for reconsideration in the light of Younger, supra, and Samuels v. Mackell, ante, p. 401 U. S. 66.

306 F.Supp. 1363, vacated and remanded.

Page 401 U. S. 217