U.S. v. Kebodeaux (US 2013)

United States v. Kebodeaux, 133 S.Ct. 2496 (US 2013)

Nature of Case: Defendant was convicted in federal court for failing to register under SORNA after an intra-state move in Texas subsequent to a federal conviction for a sex offense. Fifth Circuit reversed the conviction on the grounds that it was unconstitutional as applied to defendant in that he was no longer in a special relationship with the federal government at the time of the failure to register offense.

Holding:  United States Supreme Court reversed the Fifth Circuit and affirmed conviction on the grounds that SORNA requirements were authorized under constitution’s Military Regulation Clause and the Necessary and Proper Clause, and that defendant was required to register under pre-SORNA Wetterling Act.