Steinman v. Blocker (Pa. 2021)
Nature of Case: Petitioner was convicted of a sex offense, and subsequently the Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down Pennsylvania’s registration scheme as violative of the Ex Post Facto clauses of both the state and federal constitutions. In response, the Pennsylvania legislature amended the law, which then caused the Pennsylvania State Police to order Petitioner to register as a sex offender. Petitioner brought an action requesting that the Court find that he was not required to register under the revised law, alleging that it still violated the Ex Post Facto clause in line with the prior holding of Muniz.
Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court granted the requested relief. In line with Muniz, the amended law retrospectively increases the punishment that Petitioner is subjected to and therefore he is not required to register under the amended law. The state thereafter sought review.
Holding: In a per curium Order, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court reversed in line with its holding in Commonwealth v. Lacombe.