Tattered Cover v. Thornton Reversed

TheMatt writes "In a victory for all those who like the First Amendment, the Colorado Supreme Court today reversed and remanded 'Tattered Cover v. Thornton'. The case concerned the Thornton police attempting to use a search warrant to gain access to the book-buying records of a suspected criminal. The Tattered Cover asserted First Amendment rights and refused to comply with the warrant. It is believed this will be heard by the US Supreme Court eventually." I can only imagine what the Tattered cover's legal bill must be like.

Comments

Supreme Court

[Artagel]

I doubt the U.S. Supreme Court will take it.

The Colorado Supreme Court restricted the ability of Colorado police to execute a search warrant.

First, there is a doctrine that says if there is an independent state ground for the ruling, then there is not a basis for Supreme Court review. This doctrine has less applicability when a Constitutional right is being allegedly violated. However, nobody says that the Colorado police have a Constitutional right to the search -- if anything the ruling tends to support Constitutional rights.

Second, Federalism doctrine, which the current U.S. Supreme Court favors, would tend to lead to the conclusion that the U.S. Supreme Court should let the Colorado Supreme Court rein in the Colorado police if it wants to.

There will be other cases in the future, and the Supreme Court may well hear one. Just not this one.

Why bother to support your local bookstore?

[melquiades]

One question:

Can you imagine Barnes & Noble, Borders, or Amazon.com doing what the Tattered Cover has done?

A modest proposal

[kindbud]

In the future, instead of linking to Amazon when you want to refer someone to a book, link to The Tattered Cover, like this:

The Termcap Manual, by Richard Stallman.

Support the folks that regard as important the same ideals you regard as important. Amazon is not your friend. The Tattered Cover is. They are fighting the good fight, and at no small cost to themselves. You should thank them by sending them your business and your friends' business.