A federal judge said the state of Idaho has “no legitimate interest” in forcing two men to register as sex offenders for life due to the state’s “crime against nature” law and will bar officials from doing so.
Idaho District Court Judge Lynn Winmill issued a preliminary injunction against the state Wednesday to prevent Randall Menges and an unnamed man identified only as John Doe from having to register.
“Doe and Menges are harmed daily by being required to register as sex offenders and the violation of their constitutional rights,” Winmill wrote in his 47-page opinion.
“I’m grateful to the court for putting an end to my nightmare,” Menges said in a statement.
Those on the sex offender registry are limited in where they can live, what jobs they can hold and who they can interact with.
The injunction from Winmill suggests the men are “likely” to win their case in court and blocks the state from enforcing the law as litigation continues.
“Doe and Menges are harmed daily by being required to register as sex offenders and the violation of their constitutional rights,” Winmill wrote in his 47-page opinion. **The mental gymnastics required by the justice system to declare for one person its punishment and the next its not is almost insurmountable. The hypocricy of the courts is baffling.. Yes folks it is harmful daily to any and all forced to suffer under it.. Thats the definition of cruel and inhumane torture!
I’m encouraged each time a judge indicates that registration causes harm, is punishment or violates constitutional rights. This chips away at the punishment edifice that is supporting the registry. As you pointed out, the mental gymnastics or cognitive dissonance required will eventually become glaringly evident.
Veritas.
“41 people convicted of crimes against nature on the registry.” That’s just… Well we know what it is.