Tattered Cover wins ruling

Court rules store doesn't have to give records to police

By Karen Abbott, News Staff Writer

April 9, 2002

The Colorado Supreme Court slammed the door Monday on police efforts to get a customer's records from Denver's Tattered Cover Book Store, a closely watched decision that could bolster privacy rights nationwide.

Civil libertarians rejoiced at the 6-0 ruling.

"It's a great decision," said Steve Zansberg, attorney for numerous groups who supported the store's long battle, including librarians and booksellers.

"For all of us in Colorado there's cause to celebrate that the judiciary has lived up to its role as the protector of civil rights and liberties."

Tattered Cover and its owner, Joyce Meskis, refused to give Thornton police information on the reading habits of a suspected methamphetamine dealer.

Officers had found an empty package from the bookstore outside a mobile home housing a meth lab. Inside, they discovered two how-to books, Advanced Techniques of Clandestine Psychedelic and Amphetamine Manufacture by Uncle Fester and The Construction and Operation of Clandestine Drug Laboratories by Jack B. Nimble.

They sought the sales receipt in an effort to prove one of the residents bought the books.

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