6th Circuit: Michigan's Sex Offender Registration Act violates Ex Post Facto clause

Yesterday a federal appeals court ruled that retroactive application of Michigan's Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA) violates the Constitution's ban on ex post facto laws. In doing so, it offered a scathing assessment of such laws that suggests they make little sense even when they're constitutional.

Article here. (via reason.com 's Hit and Run blog)

 Responding to a challenge brought by five men and one woman who committed sex offenses before Michigan's legislature expanded SORA's requirements, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit concludes that the added provisions, although framed as civil regulations, are mainly punitive in their effects.

Lawsuit claims "scarlet letter" passports for sex offenders are unconstitutional

A bill that President Obama signed into law on Monday requires that passports used by registered sex offenders carry a "conspicuous" mark to ensure the bearers are properly scrutinized, shunned, harassed, and stigmatized wherever they might travel.

A federal lawsuit filed yesterday in San Francisco argues that the so-called International Megan's Law (IML), which passed both houses of Congress on voice votes without any real debate, violates the First Amendment, the Fifth Amendment, and the Ex Post Facto Clause.

Article here. 

Michigan law maker proposes new Sex Offender Registry changes after 1,000 ft radius declared unconstitutional

Portions of the Sex Offender Registry (SOR) law were declared unconstitutional earlier this year. That's because the requirement that people on the SOR were supposed to stay at least 1,000 feet from a school at all times.

Article here.

But never fear, Michigan law makers are ready to amend the 1994 legislation - yet again- to re-include the 1,000 ft requirement, and in such a way that the law would not be considered over-broad.  

More details to follow. . . .