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Judge blocks Calif. sex offender rules (Jessica's Law/Prop 83 goes to court)
AP on Yahoo ^ | 11/8/06 | David Kravets - ap

Posted on 11/08/2006 10:03:18 PM PST by NormsRevenge

SAN FRANCISCO - A federal judge on Wednesday blocked enforcement of key provisions of a ballot measure designed to crack down on sex offenders, ruling the law was unconstitutional just a day after voters overwhelmingly approved it.

The so-called Jessica's Law prohibits registered sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park, effectively banning parolees from many California communities. It also requires lifetime satellite tracking for some paroled sex criminals upon their release from prison.

More than 70 percent of voters approved the initiative Tuesday. Hours later, an unidentified sex offender filed the lawsuit, arguing that the measure should apply only to offenders who register after the law was approved.

U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ruled that the measure "is punitive by design and effect" and probably unconstitutional. She issued a temporary restraining order against the law's residency requirements, saying the plaintiff was likely to prevail. The judge also ordered a Nov. 27 hearing.

Supporters and critics of the measure had expected the residency rules to be challenged in court.

State law already limits where sex offenders can live, but the new rules would make it even harder to find homes for offenders released from prison. Most parolees currently are prohibited from living within a quarter-mile of a school, with a half-mile restriction imposed on high-risk sex offenders.

The scope of the initiative largely hinged on whether it would apply retroactively to the state's roughly 90,000 registered sex offenders.

The proposition, according to the lawsuit, effectively banishes the plaintiff "from his home and community for a crime he committed, and paid his debt for, long ago."

Nathan Barankin, a spokesman for Attorney General Bill Lockyer, said the state would defend the law.

Supporters said the initiative would save lives, but law enforcement and social workers worried that some sex offenders may simply stop reporting their addresses so they will not have to move.

The proposition is named for Jessica Lunsford, a 9-year-old Florida girl who was kidnapped, raped and killed last year by a convicted sex offender.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; calinitiatives; clinton; jessicaslaw; judicialactivism; moralabsolutes; prop83; scotus

1 posted on 11/08/2006 10:03:19 PM PST by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge

I vote for an amendment that would force all sex offenders to live within 1,000 feet of a federal judge.


2 posted on 11/08/2006 10:09:37 PM PST by BigFinn
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To: BigFinn

Thing is, you can get on the sex offender list for something as minor as urinating outside.


3 posted on 11/08/2006 10:11:57 PM PST by DrGunsforHands
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To: DrGunsforHands

Good. The bushes will get watered.


4 posted on 11/08/2006 10:13:16 PM PST by BigFinn
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To: BigFinn
I'll second that! A truly capital idea, but don't look for a lot of support from our newly elected Dim government. Maybe you could try in various Red State legislatures? It might have a chance there--where Republicans still reign.
5 posted on 11/08/2006 10:15:40 PM PST by singfreedom ("Victory at all costs,.......for without victory there is no survival."--Churchill--that's "Winston")
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To: BigFinn

One more reason to as Je$$e HiJackson said .. Stayz Out'da Bushes! ;-)


6 posted on 11/08/2006 10:16:06 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ...... Aloha!!!)
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To: NormsRevenge

Nominated by President Bill Clinton on January 23, 1995. Perhaps we need a Seperate ping list for Clinton Judges.


7 posted on 11/08/2006 10:21:04 PM PST by ozoneliar ("The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants" -T.J.)
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To: NormsRevenge

8 posted on 11/08/2006 10:22:54 PM PST by ozoneliar ("The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants" -T.J.)
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To: NormsRevenge
Hours later, an unidentified sex offender filed the lawsuit, arguing that the measure should apply only to offenders who register after the law was approved.

U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ruled that the measure "is punitive by design and effect" and probably unconstitutional.

The sex offender has a better legal argument than the judge. Says something about the quality of our judges.

9 posted on 11/08/2006 11:01:18 PM PST by opinionator
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To: opinionator

The Judge, Clinton appointee, 1995.

This one was headed to the courts anyway.


10 posted on 11/08/2006 11:03:16 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ...... Aloha!!!)
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To: NormsRevenge
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ruled that the measure "is punitive by design and effect" and probably unconstitutional.

PROBABLY ? She's a d*mned judge ... rule on the basis of law or get the hell off the bench. Criminy

11 posted on 11/08/2006 11:55:11 PM PST by Centurion2000 (If the Romans had nukes, Carthage would still be glowing.)
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To: Centurion2000
She said "probably" because this was a temporary restraining order, not a decision on the merits. In order to issue a TRO, there has to be a likelihood of success on the merits, not a certainty.

The "definitely" comes after the trial. Criminy

12 posted on 11/09/2006 7:45:03 AM PST by Professor Kill
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Later pingout.


13 posted on 11/09/2006 8:05:20 AM PST by little jeremiah
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To: NormsRevenge

Send them all to the south pole. Plenty of room.


14 posted on 11/09/2006 12:30:00 PM PST by Maximus_Ridiculousness (Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.)
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To: NormsRevenge

I hope those sex offenders go live next to this judge.


15 posted on 11/13/2006 2:02:26 PM PST by zendari
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