Ohio Judge Strikes Down Sex Offender Law

(Cleveland, Ohio) Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Judge Ronald Suster declared Ohio's sex offender registration law unconstitutional this past week.

Judge Ronald Suster blocked the state from enforcing the law on one sex offender convicted of sexual battery in 2003.

In his court order, Suster ruled that the new requirements are unlawful because they increase punishment without a court hearing and are retroactively applied to sex offenders whose crimes were committed before the law passed in 2007.

Judge Suster said the law intended to "punish and ostracize this unpopular group."

The state has 30 days to appeal the ruling.

Based on Judge Suster's words, it's not clear whether he's merely against the provisions of the law or the entire concept of registration of sex offenders. My guess would be the latter.