Packingham v. North Carolina (US 2017)

Packingham v. North Carolina, 137 S.Ct. 1730 (US 2017)

Nature of Case: Defendant, a North Carolina registrant, was convicted under a state statute banning anyone on the sex offense registry from using social media. Appealed and intermediate NC Court reversed, striking statute down on First Amendment grounds. State Supreme Court granted review and reversed again, affirming trial court, holding that the law did not upset First Amendment principles. United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.

Held: North Carolina statute banning those on sex offense registry from using social media unconstitutional under the First Amendment. Decision reversed.