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Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules State Sex Offender Registration Law Violates Ex Post Facto Clause
by David Reutter
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that the registration sections of Pennsylvania’s Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”) are punitive and thus cannot be applied retroactively. The Court concluded that applying SORNA’s registration requirements to a defendant convicted of offenses prior to SORNA’s effective date …
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More from this issue:
- Absurd, Abusive, and Outrageous: The Creation of Crime and Criminals in America, by Christopher Zoukis
- Study’s Data Show Racial Disparity in Plea Bargaining Outcomes, by Derek Gilna
- Missouri Supreme Court Holds Probation Revocation for Nonpayment of Court Costs Unconstitutional, by Mark Wilson
- Evidence Scandal Leads to the Dismissal of over 140 Texas Criminal Cases, by Matthew Clarke
- Fourth Circuit Holds Supervised Release Revocation Sentence Unreasonable, by Christopher Zoukis
- Urban Institute Releases Report Detailing the Effects of Criminal Background Checks on Employment, by Derek Gilna
- California SVP Determination Based on Hearsay Evidence Reversed, by Mark Wilson
- Alford Pleas: Prosecutors’ Choice for the Wrongfully Convicted, by David Reutter
- Eighth Circuit: Warrantless Seizure of Handgun Not Permitted under Plain View Doctrine, by Mark Wilson
- News in Brief
- Oregon Supreme Court Rules No Vindictiveness in Resentencing Where Longer Term for Specific Conviction but Overall Multi-Conviction Sentence Shorter, by Mark Wilson
- Seventh Circuit: Violent Cop’s Below-Guideline Sentence Not Justified, Again, by Mark Wilson
- Unloaded Firearm in Zipped Case Is Not “Deadly Weapon” under Oregon’s First-Degree Burglary Statute, by Mark Wilson
- D.C. Court of Appeals Rules Warrantless Use of Stingray Device Constitutes Unlawful Search and Reverses Defendant’s Convictions, by Richard Resch
- Eleventh Circuit Holds Defendants Voluntarily Consented to Search in Police Ruse to Search Home Purportedly to Investigate Burglary, by David Reutter
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules State Sex Offender Registration Law Violates Ex Post Facto Clause, by David Reutter
- Georgia Supreme Court Rules Flipping the Bird Is Not Disorderly Conduct, by Christopher Zoukis
- New Study: “Broken Windows” Policing May Not Be as Effective as Thought, by Christopher Zoukis
- California Felonizes Some Prosecutorial Misconduct, by Matthew Clarke
- Ninth Circuit Concludes Mandatory Supervision Akin to Parole for Fourth Amendment Analysis, by Mark Wilson
- Proof of Law Enforcement Duty Is Primary Job to Establish Peace Officer Status, by David Reutter
- Oregon Enacts Law Requiring Grand Jury Testimony to Be Recorded—Finally!, by Mark Wilson
- Georgia Supreme Court Tosses DUI Conviction Based on Officer’s Testimony of Impairment, by Christopher Zoukis
- Third Circuit Holds Habeas Petitioner’s Claim Based on Prosecutor Knowingly Using Perjured Testimony Not Subject to Brecht “Actual Prejudice” Standard, by Richard Resch
- Nevada Supreme Court: Mistrial Due to Egregious and Improper Conduct by Prosecutor Bars Retrial, by Christopher Zoukis
- Several States Bar Landlords from Automatically Denying Housing to Felons
- Habeas Hints: SCOTUS Review 2016–17, by Kent Russell, Tara Hoveland
- Fourth Circuit Holds North Carolina Sex Offender Restrictions Unconstitutional, by Matthew Clarke
- Colorado Supreme Court Rules That Criminal Trespass Is a Lesser Included Offense of Burglary, by Christopher Zoukis
- Colorado Supreme Court Rules That Unlawful Sexual Contact Is a Lesser Included Offense of Sexual Assault, by Christopher Zoukis
- Kentucky Court Rules Death Penalty Statute Applied to Defendant under 21 Years Old Unconstitutional, by Mark Wilson
More from David Reutter:
- Eight Circuit Reverses Denial of Partial Qualified Immunity in Detainee’s Pepper Ball Claim, Remands Excessive Force Claims, Sept. 1, 2026
- Nevada Prisoners, Families Call Out Predatory Tablet Program, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit: Error in Granting Judgment Prior to Adjudging Spoliation Motion, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Affirms Qualified Immunity in Strip Searches Resulting from Anonymous Tips, Sept. 1, 2026
- Tenth Circuit: Colorado Governor Unentitled to Eleventh Amendment Immunity on Claim Related to DOC Religious Policies, Aug. 1, 2026
- Michigan Appeals Court: Witnesses Cannot be Forced to Wear Jail Clothes at Trial, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Affirms Denial of State-Law Qualified Immunity in Scabies Case, Aug. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Revives Disabled Prisoner’s Claim for Denial of Out-of-Cell Exercise Time, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Announces State-Law Exceptions to Appeal Deadlines Preserve “Pending” Status Under AEDPA, Holding Belated-Appeal Procedures Toll Federal Habeas Limitations Period, April 1, 2026
- Florida Supreme Court Announces Rule 3.170(f)’s Good-Cause Plea-Withdrawal Standard Does Not Apply at Post-Appeal Resentencing, April 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- Conviction Tossed for Former Alabama Prisoner Paroled After 42 Years, July 1, 2026. Sex Offender Registration, Wrongful Conviction, Forensic Sciences, Eyewitness Identification, Brady Rule violations.
- Michigan Supreme Court Announces Betts Decision Invalidating 2011 SORA as Ex Post Facto Punishment Applies Retroactively to Defendants on Collateral Review, July 1, 2026. Sex Offender Registration, Retroactivity, Ex Post Facto, Constitution, state, Constitutional Challenges/Law.
- Montana Supreme Court: Due Process Prohibits Courts From Relying on Unproven Charging Allegations When Imposing Sex Offender Registration Duty, Announces First-Impression Rule Limiting Review to Elements of Conviction, March 1, 2026. Sex Offender Registration, Administrative Exhaustion, Fourteenth Amendment, rights, Qualifying Offenses, Acquitted Conduct/Uncharged Crimes/Dismissed Counts.
- Fifth Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Suit by Civilly Committed Texan, Dec. 1, 2025. Sex Offenders (Discrimination), Conditions of Confinement, Complaints, Grievances, Civil Commitment.
- Florida Appeals Court Finds Rationale for “Sexual Predator” Label on Former Prisoner’s Drivers License, Oct. 1, 2025. Sex Offender Registration, Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Sexually Dangerous Persons/Sexual Violent Predators, Prisoners' Rights.
- Nebraska Supreme Court Announces ‘Working Days’ for Purposes of ‘Temporary Domicile’ SORA Reporting Requirement Means Weekdays, Excluding Legal Holidays, and Reverses Conviction for Failure to Register, March 15, 2025. Sex Offender Registration, Wrongful Conviction.
- Washington Prisoner Sues Jail Where Assault Left Him Comatose, DOC Guard Who Then Sexually Abused Him, March 1, 2025. Prisoner-Staff Assault, Guard Misconduct, Jail Misconduct, Sex Offender Registration, Failure to Protect (General).
- Incompetent Louisiana Sex Offender’s Challenge to Registration Requirements Proceeds, Dec. 15, 2024. Sex Offender Registration, Sex Offenders (Discrimination), Sex Offense Registration Act (SORNA).
- Minnesota’s $100 Million-Per-Year Civil Commitment Program Has No “Discernible Impact” on Sex Crimes, Oct. 15, 2024. Sex Offenders (Discrimination), Databases, Civil Commitment.
- Sixth Circuit Strikes Retroactive Application of Parts of Tennessee’s Sweeping Sex Offender Registration, Verification, and Tracking Law, Oct. 1, 2024. Sex Offender Registration, Retroactivity.
