Civil rights organization says it’s unconstitutional to label people for life without individual review
DETROIT – Today the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (ACLU), on behalf of 10 people who all previously won federal court rulings that Michigan’s Sex Offenders Registration Act (SORA) is unconstitutional, filed a federal class action lawsuit against state officials over the latest version of the law. It is the fourth federal lawsuit the civil rights organization has filed challenging SORA in the past decade. The federal courts and the Michigan Supreme Court have repeatedly ruled that the earlier iteration of SORA was unconstitutional.
Today’s lawsuit, Does v. Whitmer, or Does III, filed in U.S. District Court, argues that the new SORA statute, which went into effect in 2021, is also unconstitutional. Specifically, SORA fails to provide for individual review or an opportunity for removal, forcing tens of thousands of people, including people who didn’t even commit a sex offense, to be branded as sex offenders and subjected to extensive, and in most cases life-long restrictions, without any consideration of their individual circumstances, which is a violation of their due process and equal protection rights. The 193-page complaint also argues that SORA imposes unconstitutional retroactive punishment, including by retroactively extending the registration terms of thousands of people to life.
Michigan has one of the largest registries in the country; there are approximately 45,000 Michigan registrants, and almost 10,000 more who live out of state.
“For nearly a decade, we have been fighting to put an end to an ineffective, bloated and unconstitutional registry that not only fails to protect survivors, but in fact makes families and communities less safe,” said Miriam Aukerman, ACLU of Michigan senior staff attorney. “The latest version of SORA is more of the same, and still puts tens of thousands of people on this list automatically without any consideration of their individual circumstances. What we’re asking for is very simple: consider the facts in each case before someone is tarred as a sex offender for life. Dying shouldn’t be the only way a person can get off the registry.”
See the available court documents at the links below:
Newest update;
206
Nov 3, 2025
Main Doc
Reply to Response to Motion
Pacer version;
206
respm Reply to Response to MotionMon 11/03 11:54 AM
REPLY to Response re204 MOTION for Order Entry Of Parties Proposed Notice Process Order And For Approval Of Notices To Registrants, Law Enforcement, And Prosecutors filed by Mary Doe, John Doe A, John Doe B, John Doe C, John Doe D, John Doe E, John Doe G, John Doe H, Mary Roe. (Aukerman, Miriam)
https://www.aclumich.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/2024-2025_legal_docket.pdf
gives a brief summary of all the missions aclu has been on. From legal reform to fighting sora to correcting excessive cruel minimum sentencing. Give it a read it summarizes all of it.
Is it worth getting a passport nowadays, I was thinking about taking the family on a cruise?
About 200.00$ in Michigan, but if you’re just going to be denied,,,,why?
CSL plasma donation centers in Michigan DENY access to those convicted of a sex offense. You cannot donate plasma at this particular plasma center in the state of Michigan which i think needs to sued.
I was wondering when people on here register if, they are always asked if there are any changes and do you have a fee. I’m of being asked that every time i go in.
Has anyone heard or read the brief that was due by November 19th if so could you post a link and your option that would be appreciated thank you
I read it, sounds legitimate, looks relevant. So heres a good read on Does vs Whitmer lawsuit. https://www.casemine.com/judgement/us/612e1cc04653d03c20da49d8
Hello Everyone, Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. So anyway I went in today to check in/register. My local cop shop has a new administrative Coordinator. So I was hoping he was trained on the registry which he was thankfully, because those clowns at the cop shop are clueless and have no clue how to even get into the database.
So anyway I went in , he asked if there was any changes I said no , not in the 30 years I’ve been doing this crap. He said give me a few minutes so I said sure . It would of been fast if people would of stopped interrupting him, or if the phone would of not been constantly ringing. Anyway my point is I had no issues, and if not for the interruptions I would have been in and out of there in about 5 minutes. There was no mention of the lawsuit, but it went well.
Just thought I’d give everyone a heads up on how my check-in went today. Hopefully before March rolls around the 6th Circuit Court will have made its decision and we pre 2011 people will finally be done with this crap. Have a great day, one and all.
This is new;
207
Dec 2, 2025
Main Doc
Hearing on motion,
was not aware of any hearing, I was under the impression that oral arguments were next,,,
Pacer monitor posted this;
Tuesday, December 02, 2025207
notice Hearing on Motion*Tue 12/02 11:40 AM
NOTICE OF REMOTE HEARING on204MOTION for Order Entry Of Parties Proposed Notice Process Order And For Approval Of Notices To Registrants, Law Enforcement, And Prosecutors . Motion Hearing set for 12/8/2025 01:00 PM before District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith . |Remote Access Phone Number: +1 (646) 828-7666 and Meeting ID: 160 458 9467| (JHea)
The voters of this country push politicians to make these god for saken laws. People in this country like the feel that they have absolute sway over us. One name in mind in paticular is what people are obsessed with epstein. The me too movement.
Hello everyone, I was just wondering if anyone has heard or knows what happened today with meeting/conference with Judge Goldsmith and the letter that is supposed to go out to everyone. Thanks in advance.
This is what pacer posted about the hearing;
Docket last updated: 9 hours agoMonday, December 08, 2025minutes Motion Hearing Mon 12/08 4:48 PM
Minute Entry for remote proceedings before District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith: Motion Hearing held on 12/8/2025 re204 MOTION for Order Entry Of Parties Proposed Notice Process Order And For Approval Of Notices To Registrants, Law Enforcement, And Prosecutors filed by John Doe A, John Doe E, John Doe C, John Doe H, Mary Roe, Mary Doe, John Doe B, John Doe D, John Doe G Disposition: Motion taken under advisement (Court Reporter: David Yarbrough) (JHea
Im hit Yall with a similie. With current evidence come to light presented to the court of all the lies and deceit from the state, we have finally pulled the tab up and started pulling back the lid on this tuna can. Now they still cant fully see the truth they finally are getting at least a whiff of it.
I was wondering if anyone here knows when the case is suppose to go to appeals. Thanks
Let me make another point here about registration fees. First off a fee is a choice not an obligation. Take admission FEES to an amusement park you can CHOOSE TO PAY THE FEE GET IN, or not and dont. DoorDash, Uber Eats, you can CHOOSE pay service FEE and DELIVERY FEE, or not and go get it yourself. You have no obligations with these FEES. However registration FEE, is extortion, since your forced to pay if you don’t there will be a warrant for your arrest and can face prison time. So you are compelled to pay. You don’t have a free choice in the matter. If you do get locked up then let out your still required to pay the fee regardless otherwise it’s another felony offense. So to force someone to pay money or seek some benefit from someone under threat is definition of extortion.
Im trying to keep this one short. Couple weeks ago I went in to do my verification, I was told I had to pay. I said last year I didn’t pay because I was told I was indigent when I tried to pay so they refused it. Year before I just got out jail so I was considered indigent so I didn’t have pay. This year i was told my information was flagged and if I didn’t pay I wouldn’t be in compliance.
problem 2; when I recieved my receipt for payment, there was a part on their think supposed be where officer signs off as receiving payment. It was a gaggle of f’s g’s and j’s on that line. I don’t think that’s legal. Considered that receipt is a legal document.
So I went to renew my license, and had go to dmv and when I renewed it they wanted take picture for it. After said and done, I checked the registry today 12/22/2025 and saw picture i taken at the dmv was used on the registry. I was never told I needed to update my picture, and wasn’t told if I didn’t I wouldn’t be in compliance. So state police stole my picture and used it on registry without my knowledge or need to do so.
https://www.michigan.gov/msp/le/legal-resources/legal-update keep this link saved. To keep track of legal updates thst applies to Michigan state police
I want try make a point here. I do know what segregationist, and registry are. However can someone definitively tell me the difference between segregation and sora registry? Not looking for definition answer either im looking for more of a civil answer. If that makes sense. If I’m not mistaken segregation was outlawed.
Hope This new year brings some relief for us pre 2011. Honestly I don’t know how much I trust these ACLU lawyers,,, there are obvious arguments that are being left out,,,, like regardless how you change the law here in MICHIGAN ,,, id have to put a sign in my yard when I move in some states, or some states I would immediately have to wear a GPS tether,,, Like say here they did remove some things identified as “unconstitutional”. Like exclusion zones where I can’t work/loiter,, don’t have to give internet identifiers ie email any more. To me tho,,, as long as I’m a free man I have the right to travel,,, anywhere in the united states that I might want to travel, and prolly more then half those states would require the things they identified here as punishment,, a handful of states would require me to wear a gps tether,,, some within 3 days of entering their state at my expense. That’s obviously punishment. Unless they can fix it where my constitutional rights are not violated (remove me from the registry). I am still being punished ex post facto,,, and will never return to the wonderful job I had traveling doing service calls nationwide,,, after my conviction but before the registry…. I can’t have a CDL,,, yet if your an unvetted stranger from any other country it’s fine. I had to not accept my family house I grew up in for my inheritance because in another state it was too close to a YMCA,,,, what good does it do me that in Michigan I can go hang out at a park now or go in a school??? I couldn’t put my name on a house in Indiana or I’d be on the registry for life,,,, how is that not punishment…. Or worse HARM! The registry is obviously punishment that can’t be cured by a Michigan law,,, and I am 100% still being harmed 25+ years later. How can that argument not hold up?? Seriously how? The whole thing is rigged,,, if you ask me that includes the people representing us. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!$!!! It never changes.
Happy new year;
208
Dec 31, 2025
Main Doc
Order
Att 1
Exhibit Registrant Notice
Att 2
Exhibit Prosecutor Explanation
Att 3
Exhibit Law Enforcement Explanation
hope this goes in the right direction,,,