Source: altoonamirror.com 5/12/23
HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair County Senior Judge Timothy M. Sullivan won’t be hearing arguments today on the constitutionality of the state’s law requiring sex offenders to regularly register their addresses and other information with state police.
Because the state Supreme Court is taking up the constitutional issue on May 23 when it reviews a Chester County case, today’s hearing before Sullivan was canceled.
Decisions by the state Supreme Court, expected after the May 23 arguments in Commonwealth v. Torsilieri, are likely to be influential on Blair County cases.
Attorneys representing George J. Torsilieri, a convicted sex offender, are attempting to get the state high court to affirm a decision by a Chester County judge who found the state’s Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act to be unconstitutional.
In pursuit of that ruling, Torsilieri’s defense attorneys presented experts who described the law as unfairly broad because it sets registration requirements for sex offenders like Torsilieri who showed little risk of reoffending.
In anticipation of the May 23 hearing before the state Supreme Court, several non-party organizations have filed briefs to comment on the issue.
Is this good news or bad news?
Watch them just claim “ oh it’s civil so it’s constitutional. I mean look how they let all these “experts” file briefs about how dangerous we are. 🙄 I truly feel as it will never end 😔
He may succeed, but only if his lawyers aim directly at the foundation of the regime. In short, “fairness” will not win the day.
I wish Torsilieri’s case much luck! May the winds of good fortune go your way!
Here is what PA Supreme Court considered last year:
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Clarifies Ex Post Facto Analysis Focuses on When, Not Where, Crime Occurred and Does Not Require Showing of Disadvantage to Defendant
So after listening to this for a refresher
https://www.registrymatters.co/podcast/rm236-pa-handed-crushing-defeat-in-torsilieri-case/
I feel cautiously optimistic for this case. Feel like we have the ball and are on offense we won the court cases in this matter and the state keeps appealing the decision so that’s a plus.
Also right now this ruling only affects Blair County Pennsylvania but a win will I believe will have all Pennsylvania people eligible to challenge their reputation defense.
So I know I’m putting the cart before the horse but if that happens then the few states that list reputation as a liberty ( supposedly a handful couldn’t find any) can use this as case precedent.
Also there is 25k registered citizens in Pennsylvania who could potentially be asking to turn in their price mart membership this might get the Supreme Court attention if we win here.
will this site be uploading the oral arguments?
⚖️🏛️ PA Supreme Court hearing is on Tuesday! ⏳👍🏻
‘Hoping the PA Justices will channel the State’s Quaker founders and make the Keystone State proud!😃
9:30 seems like when oral arguments will begin https://m.youtube.com/live/3xB9LwPC7EI
9:30 a m tomorrow …. I’m looking forward to a very interesting hearing. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻😃
anyone listening?
8:05 a.m. PCT: The PASC Torselieri arguments have just concluded. And, as the justices themselves stated, they were good arguments presented by counsel. (I would assume they mean both counsel.)
So now we wait for that ruling…. 🤷🏻♂️
Ok so from what I could tell defense was only kept saying high 20% recidivism rate and it’s a legislative issue.
Our lawyer seemed well advised with our issues but mainly was bombarded with what happens with felon and gun rights, if you win. One of the judges mentioned what happens when the consensus change using Galileo as an example tho i could be potentially reading to much into that.
Seems there trying to see how they can unwind this law with out opening a can of worm with other people using this case as precedent.
One of the judges seem to struggle with striking the law vs individual assessments at one point so that could be a compromise. They also question why they used right to reputation.
I read somewhere they will announce their decisions in the fall around November
Recording can be found on this ACSOL post:
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Oral Arguments – Tuesday, May 23, 2023
we are the first case on it. The state is talking first.