The Nichols and Packingham cases didn’t exactly offer much to registered sex offenders. The Nichols ruling that sex offenders no longer have to update their registry info after moving out of their home state was just common sense. Most states would never expect anything else. Packingham simply prevents the government from barring sex offenders from accessing social media sites. It still allows the sites themselves to discriminate. From what I have read at other sites, the Court is likely taking up Gundy for the broader purpose of forcing Congress to stop delegating rule making to administrative agencies. It may also be overly optimistic to believe that this case will “force” the Court to re-examine Smith v Doe. If you have ever listened to oral argument at the Court, you would note that the Justices interrupt the attorneys constantly and steer the presentation to what THEY want to hear, not to what the lawyer wants to present. It is very likely that the focus of this case will not have much to do at all with sex offenders. You should read all of the amicus briefs filed in the case. There is one that argues about how delegation infringes on religious freedoms. And again, even if Gundy wins, it just puts the ball back into the hands of a Congress that can fix the law with a one-line addition making it fully retroactive. It may prove to be an interesting case, but it will not address the FACT that registries ARE punishment.

So only Congress can pass unconstitutional acts; they can’t delegate that authority? I don’t see a win for us here.

I know I’m in the same boat.

Same here, I took a plea deal, I had (3) other felonies pending at the same time. I took a 7 year plea deal. My attorney told me even if I win one, they will give me the maximum on the other’s. Everything was concurrent. The date alleged, the crime took place was 1989. There wasn’t no such thing as Sex Offender Registration, I would have taken my chances with Jury Trail, if I would have known Years later I would be subjected to this Registration Process!!! I just can’t understand (it’s not punishment) I feel like, I signed a contract with our Government and the Violated the agreement!!! I should have the opportunity to have my case reopened. People like me, who are being subjected to this Registration vyears after release, is so fundamentally wrong. I beat the odds, made a decent life after prison., Then get it Destroyed all over again with Registration!!!

I think his point is that the database which IML uses to compile lists of registered sex offenders is based on registry information from each individual state.

I agree here Bobby. The 25 year wait dictated by AWA for those designated sexual offender to have a chance in court to ask for relief from the registry is just plain ridiculous. It should be once you finish your sentence you can ask the sentencing court for relief. This should be based on an individual risk assessment. A case by case matter.

I may be wrong, but I think Holder wanted to soften up the criminal justice system – or at least part of it when it came to simple drug offenses. On the other hand, the current AG wants to toughen it up even more – even simple drug offenses.

That is my feeling too. Unless the Supreme Court decides to expand the issue to conclude that such registries are, indeed, an additional punishment, AND that those laws can’t be applied retroactively, the case will not help most of us. It won’t even affect all of the people who were convicted in federal courts and were subsequently added the the sex offender registries in their home states. The real reason that the Supreme Court may have taken up this case in the first place was to play political havoc with the Legislative and Executive branches. Their final decision may not have anything to do with sex offender registries at all. It would take just a simple one-line bill for Congress to declare the federal registry retroactive, and make Mr. Gundy’s case moot.

It’s all depressing nothing for florid Ian’s so we’re just stuck. All I want to know is about florida nothing else unless it impacts florida All I see are other states get relief while we get screwed