Upcoming SCOTUS Cases on Sex Offenses
Weekly Update 2017-09-26
Dear Members and Advocates:
Two significant events took place yesterday. First; the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) re-convened to decide which cases they would choose to hear during the upcoming session. Among them, a couple of sex offender cases. Second; the sentencing of former US Congressman, Anthony Weiner, for a sexting a minor.
We will likely know within a week whether Karsjens v. Piper (a class challenge to Minnesota’s civil commitment regime) and/or Snyder v. Doe (seeking review of the Sixth Circuit’s determination that the retroactive application of Michigan’s sex offender registration laws constituted ex post facto punishment) will be heard. Sentiment as to whether we want Snyder picked up is mixed. Some are perfectly happy taking the ex post facto victory in the 6th Circuit and bringing it to lawsuits in their Circuits. They are hoping the SCOTUS won’t touch it. Then there are others who hope the SCOTUS hears it, affirms it and makes it the binding law throughout the US.
It’s difficult to know which direction the SCOTUS will take. Their most recent sex offender cases worked out quite well. In Nichols v. United States they ruled in favor of the registrant who left the country without “registering” in the new “jurisdiction in which he resides” because there was no registry in his receiving country. In Packingham v. North Carolina they unanimously held that a State statue prohibiting registrants from accessing social media violated the First Amendment. Those who see these most recent decisions as the SCOTUS recognizing the grave injustices that have been allowed to take place under the guise of their 2003 Smith v. Doe decision (as well as a recognition they had their facts wrong for that one), might feel more comfortable with them taking the case. Others who have experienced decades of being dumped on, may not have such a positive outlook. Its nerve wracking either way, but rest assured that we’ll keep you updated every step of the way.
The sentencing of Anthony Weiner is significant because it’s a statement to lawmakers that perpetrators of sexual crimes can be anyone, including one of them! All these laws addressing “stranger danger” or focusing attention to names on a list is diverting attention from who the real offenders are… anyone. This week we reported on three members of law enforcement who were arrested for sex crimes against minors. We often highlight stories of teachers sexually abusing students. We post these stories with mixed emotions. On one hand, we stand strongly opposed to sexual victimization, so with a great deal of empathy to the victims – these stories are tragic. On the other hand, we need to make the public aware that “sex offenders” are not beady-eyed creeps in a trench coat standing outside the school yard. They are, more commonly, at the front of the classrooms or wearing police uniforms or, unfortunately, family friends or even family.
Finally, a point of clarification… an invitation was circulated earlier this week for a Meet and Greet to take place this Sunday in Brevard County. The event was described as a “non-denominational faith based event”. The Florida Action Committee is a secular organization and we are not affiliated with any religious group. We welcome and respect members of all religions and beliefs. We appreciate all congregations of any faith that will welcome our population into their sanctuaries and allow us to hold meetings, share our goals and mission with their members and help those who are marginalized assimilate into a community. We do not, by any means, seek to impose any of the religious beliefs of a host congregation on our members or intend to disrespect those with conflicting practices or ideologies. We welcome everyone to join us this Sunday for the Meet and Greet to be held at 1240 Clearmont St, Palm Bay FL 32905. The FAC Meet and Greet begins at 1PM. For those interested in attending services that preceded the Meet and Greet, they begin at 10:30 AM. We hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
The Florida Action Committee
SOME HEADLINES FROM THIS WEEK
FAC Requests Clarification from St. Lucie County
Several of our members have forwarded notices they received from St Lucie County, informing them of their County’s rules when it comes to sex offenders and reporting internet identifiers. Deputies in that county have been visiting registrants and giving them a…
Warning: You could get arrested for obscuring the “Sexual Predator” stamp on your Florida Drivers License.
A registered sex predator was jailed in Clay County after he tried to alter his driver’s license to hide the words “sexual predator” on his driver’s license, a police report said. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office said XXXXXX, 63, placed a sticker over the Sexual…
Advocacy Works! An example of how one Maine city considered the truth.
It used to be that all you had to do was insert the keyword “sex offender” into whatever law you wanted passed and nobody would have the political will to vote against it. That’s changing. As people are beginning to recognize that statistics previously relied upon…
Murderer said he would “spend his remaining days killing sexual offenders”
A Canadian man, Derrick Lawlor, who now stands accused of Murder, told his therapist that if he only had two months to live, he would kill every sexual offender. In fact, during a conversation on whether sex offender registries should be public or private, the…