Free Republic

This courtesy of the AP: Justices Say Sexual Predator Expansion Not Retroactive Oct 27, 2005 TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - An offender who did not qualify as a sexual predator when sentenced cannot later receive that designation even if the criteria is changed to include his crime, the Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday. Sexual predators must register with the state for the rest of their lives and their whereabouts are public information. Assistant Deputy Attorney Generalde at sentencing, not later, except for out-of-state convictions. John Richard Therrien did not meet the criteria when he was sentenced, she wrote. Therrien was 16...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Investigators raided the offices of Rush Limbaugh's doctor Thursday, saying in search warrants that the conservative radio commentator engaged in illegal drug use and "doctor shopping" for prescription painkillers. The warrants show investigators were looking for records including prescription disbursements, appointment schedules, receipts and a medical questionnaire. "Mr. Limbaugh's actions violate the letter, and spirit" of the law that relates to "doctor shopping," stated one of warrants, signed by Asim Brown, a law enforcement agent assigned to the state attorney's office anti-money laundering task force. Doctor shopping refers to looking for a doctor willing...

<p>California judges ordered two molestation defendants freed Monday as authorities sought to determine how many cases may be voided by the U.S. Supreme Court's rejection of a law that allowed prosecution of decades-old sex abuse allegations.</p> <p>The ruling was denounced by people who have accused priests of crimes, while prosecutors emphasized that the fallout from the high court's decision will extend far beyond the high-profile clergy sex abuse scandal that has rocked the Roman Catholic church.</p>

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the government cannot retroactively erase statutes of limitations, a defeat for prosecutors trying to pursue priests accused of long-ago sex abuse. On a 5-4 vote, the justices struck down a California law that allowed prosecutions for old sex crimes. It was challenged by a 72-year-old man accused of molesting his daughters when they were children. The case was closely watched because of sex abuse problems in the Roman Catholic church, but it also has implications for terrorism and other crimes. Justice Stephen Breyer, writing for the court, said the Constitution bars...

VERIFIED ON THOMAS, LOOKS LIKE GOODE MAY BE ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS! This bill actually made pretty good progress last session, Lautenberg is so clearly unconstitutional and cost so many L.E. and military officers their jobs that it might actually be possible to repeal it. Yes, it's author is back in office, but in the minority party, and he never would have got this "passed" in the first place if it had not been literally hidden in a huge spending bill. Now it's out in the open, and only radical feminazi's irrational fantasies can still support it. This bill...