The Kentucky Attorney General’s Office is defending a law that requires registered child sex offenders to use their full names on social media accounts.
The Attorney General’s Principal Deputy Solicitor General Jack Heyburn presented the commonwealth’s case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on Friday.
In 2024, the General Assembly unanimously passed Senate Bill 249, sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield. An anonymous registered sex offender challenged the law and asked the federal court to prevent County Attorney for Daviess County John Burlew from enforcing the statute, the attorney general’s office said.
In a brief filed last year before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Attorney General Russell Coleman asked the court to lift a lower court’s ruling and allow the law to take full effect.
“As attorney general, and a father, I will not tolerate those who target our most vulnerable. We must be on constant guard against predators who seek to exploit Kentucky children online,” Coleman said. “We are proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the General Assembly, including my own Senator Lindsey Tichenor, to keep Kentucky’s parents informed about who is contacting our kids.”
The appeal was argued before three appellate judges, who are now considering the matter.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
