An Orange County Superior Court judge denied a temporary restraining order (TRO) requested by Richard Linington, a registered citizen, and Michelle Moreno, his fiancée, during a hearing on August 19 that would have prevented the enforcement of new residency restrictions in the City of Cypress. Also during the hearing, the judge recommended that the City refrain from enforcing the restrictions until an October 1 hearing on a preliminary injunction.
“The City of Cypress has an opportunity to maintain the status quo by choosing not to enforce the new ordinance until at least October 1,” stated CA RSOL president Janice Bellucci. “Both parties will be given an opportunity on that date to provide the judge with a complete explanation of their positions.”
In the absence of a TRO, however, the City could choose to enforce its new ordinance, which could force Moreno to choose between living in her Cypress home of 26 years or continuing to live with her fiancée.
“This is a choice no one should be forced to make,” stated Bellucci.
At issue is this case is whether Cypress’ new ordinance complies with a recent CA Supreme Court case, In re Taylor, which held that residency restrictions in San Diego could not be applied as a blanket restriction to all registered citizens on parole. The Court in that case determined that the restrictions violated the registrants’ right to be free from unreasonable, arbitrary and oppressive government actions. In reaching its decision, the Court noted that San Diego was densely populated and that there was a lack of affordable housing.
In this case, Cypress alleges that the city’s population is of medium density although the population density of that city is 7,300 people per square mile as compared to 3,771 in San Diego. The City also alleges that there is sufficient affordable housing for registered citizens.
“The judge has requested additional information from both parties on the topics of population density and affordable housing during the October 1 hearing,” stated Bellucci. “We will be prepared to show that the effect of the Cypress ordinance is to banish registered citizens from that city.”
Related
Registered sex offender, fiancee sue to live together in Orange County (ABC7 – with video)
Zoned out: A registered sex offender trying to move on collides with Cypress (OC Register)
Richard Linington and Fiancée Sue Cypress for Strengthening Sex Offender Ordinance (OC Weekly)
What happens in Cypress is of great importance to registered citizens in every city. Why? If Cypress is allowed to enforce residency restrictions, other cities will do the same and/or adopt new ones. So far, Cypress is an outlier in that 3 cities and 1 county repealed their residency restrictions after the Supreme Court’s decision in Taylor without being sued. Many more are watching what happens to Cypress in the lawsuit that is now pending.
Was Richard Liningtons, conviction after Jessicas law passed ? Or was he incarcerated and the released after Jessicas Law passed? Why did the Judge refuse the TRO ?
Godspeed to all parties in this venture fighting for the rights of reformation.
People tend to forget that the system was established on the founding fathers’ Puritan Christian beliefs to afford people the opportunity to amend themselves and rehabilitate. It’s important to remember to those who believe in a higher power that we will not only be judged by how we treated our best, but by how we treated our worst.
It seems the 9th Circuit really messed things up for registered citizens. Because they only ruled on restrictions for those on parole, it left the rest of those who completed their sentences in some kind of limbo. Common sense would tell you upon successful completion of parole/probation, no more residency restrictions. But lawmakers do not operate on common sense. Do they really expect to apply restrictions once sentences are completed? This needs to be taken back to the 9th circuit.
Ironically, with Janice’s batting average of a thousand, there have been no cases to take to a higher court, as cities generally won’t try to go to a higher court. If Cypress loses this case (I don’t see how they can win it without serious destruction of both the CA and US ex post facto and bill of attainder clauses), will they take it to a higher court? I doubt it.
If the city prevails and notches the state’s first win ever against Janice, though, then I assume that CA RSOL will appeal. But this would still throw poor Richard’s and Michelle’s life in limbo hell, and I feel greatly for their situation. The registry is indeed a harsh and bitter source of human depravity all the way around.
Just curious if there has been any movement on this case. I know the city council discussed in behind closed doors before their Sept. 24th meeting. Did the October hearing take place? Or is Cypress getting in line with the rest of the pitchfork wavers like Carson and Murrieta for their butt-kicking in court?