Office of the Attorney General
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Press Release Date: |
Thursday, November 05, 2009 |
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Contact Information: |
Allison Gardner Martin |
Attorney General Jack Conway today filed a motion with the United States Supreme Court asking it to stay the recent ruling by the Kentucky Supreme Court that lifts the residency restrictions for all registered sex offenders who committed their crimes before July 12, 2006 – meaning more than 5,500 sex offenders could live next to schools and daycares.
General Conway and his Office of Criminal Appeals are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the state ruling until it decides whether or not to review Kentucky’s case. The Office of the Attorney General has until December 30, 2009 to file a certiorari motion with the U.S. Supreme Court.
Attorney General Conway will file the certiorari motion because Kentucky’s law is similar to laws in several other states that have had conflicting rulings by state courts. He also has the statutory obligation to defend laws passed by the Kentucky General Assembly.
“I understand there are constitutional questions regarding retroactivity, but there are also public safety implications for families in keeping sex offenders away from where children congregate. Only the U.S. Supreme Court can weigh these issues and provide guidance to states,” said Attorney General Conway.
Attorney General Conway’s Office of Criminal Appeals filed a motion on October 21, 2009 with the Kentucky Supreme Court requesting that it suspend implementation of the ruling until the U.S. Supreme Court determines whether or not it will review the Kentucky case. The Kentucky Supreme Court denied the motion.
A link to the Office of the Attorney General’s motion for a U.S. Supreme Court stay is below.