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Reynolds v. United States

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
10-6549 3d Cir. Oct 3, 2011 Jan 23, 2012 7-2 Breyer OT 2011

Holding: The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act does not require pre-Act offenders to register before the Attorney General validly specifies that the Act’s registration provi­sions apply to them.

Plain English Holding: The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act does not, by itself, automatically require sex offenders who were convicted before the Act went into effect to register with police in the areas where they live and work. Instead, those sex offenders are only required to register once the Attorney General of the United States has issued a valid rule requiring them to register.

Judgment: Reversed, 7-2, in an opinion by Justice Breyer on January 23, 2012. Justice Scalia filed a dissenting opinion, which was joined by Justice Ginsburg.

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Briefs and Documents

Merits Briefs for the Petitioner

Merits Briefs for the Respondent

 

Certiorari-stage documents