AG Statement On John Doe Lawsuit Claiming Sex Offender Registry Is Unconstitutional

May 2, 2006

Last Wednesday, April 26, a convicted sex offender using the pseudonym John Doe filed a lawsuit against Kennebec County District Attorney Evert Fowle and Chief of the Maine State Police Colonel Craig Poulin claiming that Maine's Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) is unconstitutional. John Doe also filed a motion for a temporary restraining order in an effort to block the State from forcing him to register as a sex offender while his lawsuit is pending. Superior Court Justice Kirk Studstrup heard arguments on that motion Monday morning, and is expected to issue a ruling soon. The Attorney General's Office represents both State defendants and is defending the constitutionality of SORNA.

In response to several media inquiries, Attorney General Rowe issued the following statement on behalf of the State defendants:

"Maine's Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act is on firm constitutional ground. The Legislature has made it very clear that John Doe should be registered under the law, and it is not for prosecutors, law enforcement officers, or the courts to be making exceptions."

CHARLES DOW, ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, 207-626-8577