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Smith v. Doe
United States Supreme Court
538 U.S. 84 (2003)
- Written by Sara Rhee, JD
Facts
The Alaska Sex Offender Registration Act required mandatory registration of sex offenders and community notification. John Doe I and John Doe II (defendants), who had previously been convicted for sexually abusing a minor, were required to register as sex offenders. John Doe I, his wife, and John Doe II sought a declaratory judgment that the statute was void as to John Doe I and John Doe II because it was a retroactive punishment prohibited by the Ex Post Facto Clause of the United States Constitution. The United States District Court for the District of Alaska ruled against John Doe I and John Doe II. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed. Certiorari was granted.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Kennedy, J.)
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