Farmer v. Swearingen, No. 15- cv–335 (N.D. Fla 2016)
Nature of Case: Farmer was a former resident of Florida, and was required to register as a sex offender due to a prior conviction in Alabama. Subsequent to moving out of Florida, he requested that his name be removed from the Florida sex offense registry, and Florida officials refused.Farmer brought a § 1983 lawsuit, alleging that Florida officials were violating his substantive due process rights, procedural due process rights, and rights to equal protection of the law.
Holding: District Court granted summary judgment to defendants. Farmer was not denied his procedural due process rights, and Farmer’s claims with respect to equal protection and substantive due process failed as Florida’s actions passed a rational basis inquiry.