October Term 2002 · Docket 01-729
Does Alaska's sex offender registration law count as punishment?
the sides that brought the case claim the registration act is a criminal penalty. The State argues it is a civil safety measure.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Olson stated that Congress and state legislatures agree citizens need access to offender information.
Mr. Thompson argued the Alaska Act imposes punishment because it has three classic punitive features.
Mr. Roberts explained that the law makes truthful information available to help protect the public.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 13-17
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether a state registration law functions as a criminal punishment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-7
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 13, 2002.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to classify the registration law as a criminal punishment.
The State wants the Court to classify the registration law as a civil safety measure.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-7
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the law imposes punishment through three classic punitive features.
The State argues the law provides truthful information to protect the public.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-7
What the justices asked
Does the registration law possess features that define it as punishment?
Does the law serve a civil regulatory purpose rather than a punitive one?
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 13-17
Why it matters
The classification determines whether the law triggers specific constitutional protections for offenders.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-7
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 13-17
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-7
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.