Doe v Raemisch
895 F.Supp.2d 897 (2012)
Court Docket
This decision was overturned on appeal in
Mueller v Raemisch
Plaintiffs John Doe of Connecticut (Doe I) and John Doe of Florida (Doe II) are each adult males who were previously convicted of sex crimes in Wisconsin and are subject to Wisconsin's sex offender registration and notification statutes, Wis. Stat. §§ 301.45, 301.46 (2009-10)[1]. Plaintiffs filed this action against the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC), its secretary and the director of the DOC's Sex Offender Program, alleging that the application and enforcement of the Wisconsin sex offender registration requirements against them constituted punishment in violate the ex post facto clauses of the United States and Wisconsin constitutions.
Readers need to realize, that this case was NOT a class action, therefore the decision applies ONLY to the two fellows who filed this case. Everyone one else must still pay the fees or file their own action and get a decision, hopefully in their favor.
Plaintiffs also allege that subjecting them to these laws violated their constitutional rights to equal protection and substantive due process and unconstitutionally impaired their respective plea agreement contracts. Finally, Plaintiffs claim the website that posts their registration violates their right to privacy under Wis. Stat. § 995.50, and that the rule requiring them to disclose their email accounts, internet user names and addresses, and websites violates their First Amendment rights. The parties have filed cross-motions for summary judgment (ECF Nos. 21, 26) and the case is now ripe for resolution. 901*901
For the reasons discussed below, Plaintiffs' motion (ECF No. 26) will be granted in part as to the $100 annual assessment § 301.45(10) imposes. In all other respects, Plaintiffs' motion is denied and Defendants' motion (ECF No. 21) will be granted.
... ... ...
Conclusion
Plaintiffs' affidavits explain in detail the difficulties and embarrassment they and their families have endured as a consequence of complying with these new restrictions, even though their convictions are now almost twenty years in the past and they have led completely law-abiding, if not exemplary, lives in the interim. Their stories raise substantial questions as to the wisdom and fairness of subjecting them and similarly situated individuals to lifetime registration and notification requirements with their attendant obligations and restrictions. But given the previous decisions addressing the issues Plaintiffs raise, I conclude that the relief, if any, must come from the legislative branch. With one limited exception, the fact that the restrictions are difficult and cumbersome is not enough to make them unconstitutional. For the most part, the amendments to the Wisconsin sex offender registry system do not depart in any meaningful way from the systems already found to be constitutional by the Bollig and Smith Courts.
The lone exception I find to this is the $100 fine provision, which I have concluded cannot be constitutionally imposed on them. With this exception, Defendants' motion for summary judgment is GRANTED and Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment is DENIED. The Clerk is directed to enter judgment declaring that imposition of the $100 annual fee on Plaintiffs pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 301.45(10) constitutes punishment in violation of their rights under the ex post facto clauses of the United States and Wisconsin constitutions and enjoining Defendants from assessing or collecting such amount from Plaintiffs. All other claims against Defendants are dismissed with prejudice.
Doe v. Raemisch et al - Document 86
Court Description:
DECISION AND ORDER granting 68 Motion for Attorney Fees, signed by Chief Judge William C Griesbach on 03/29/2013. Plaintiffs are awarded attorney fees and costs in the amount of $23,616. See Decision and Order for full detail. (cc: all counsel) (Griesbach, William) ..Source.. (Note: Detail is available at link)
As the result of the above decision another fellow tried to get a refund on fees he was charged and paid. In essence the court held "It is a state matter not federal." So look to state courts assuming he continued the fight.
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