Doe v. Pataki

JON. 0. NEWMAN, Circuit Judge.

This appeal concerns the constitutionality of New York’s version of “Megan’s Law.”1 The statute requires sex offenders, after serving their sentences, to register with law enforcement officials, and provides for various degrees of public notification of the identity and address of these offenders. The specific issue is whether the statute inflicts “punishment,” in which event the Ex Post Facto Clause would prohibit its application to those who committed their offenses prior to enactment of the statute.

The three plaintiffs, proceeding under pseudonyms, effectively…