Doe v. Peterson (D. Neb. 2021)

Doe v. Peterson, No. 18-CV-507 (D. Neb. 2021)

Nature of Case: Plaintiffs, all individuals who were adjudicated as juveniles outside of Nebraska and were required to register as sex offenders by their respective states, brought a civil rights lawsuit against Nebraska state officials. Registration in their various home states was not public, due to their status as juveniles, but registration in Nebraska would be public. The plaintiffs brought suit alleging violations of Equal Protection, substantive Due Process, right to travel, Ex Post Facto, and the 8th Amendment.

Holding: Federal district court in Nebraska granted summary judgment in favor of the state defendants on all claims, finding that although the Nebraska legislature’s methods for addressing juvenile registration was incongruous, there was no differential treatment such that constitutional rights were violated.