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Supreme Court grants cert on federal sex offender civil confinement

By Douglas A. Berman

As detailed in this order list, the Supreme Court this morning granted cert on United States v. Comstock, which concerns Congress's authority to enact a federal statute permitting court-ordered civil commitment by the federal government of ?sexually dangerous? persons.  This case technically has more to do with congressional power than with sex offenders, but the sex-offense setting still makes this a case to watch for sentencing fans. Some related posts: Fourth Circuit finds federal sex offender civil commitment law unconstitutional "Release of sex offenders delayed"  Two significant sex offender rulings on constitutional issues from the Eighth Circuit  UPDATE:  At SCOTUSblog here, Lyle Denniston has this description of the grant in Comstock and the other criminal justice case that the Justices took up today: The Supreme Court, granting review of three cases Monday, agreed to settle the constitutionality of a 2005 law giving federal officials authority to order the long-term confinement of individuals considered to be sexually dangerous (U...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on June 22, 2009 (boomark / email).