The Kentucky attorney general’s office announced that a law requiring registered sex offenders who committed crimes against juveniles to use their full name on social media can be enforced statewide, following a unanimous ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Under the 2024 law, any registered sex offender in Kentucky who has committed a crime against a minor must use their full name if they choose to use social media, the attorney general’s office said. An anonymous registered sex offender in Daviess County sued County Attorney for Daviess County, John Burlew, to stop enforcement of the law.
Attorney General Russell Coleman said: “Policy makers in the General Assembly passed a common-sense law to keep Kentucky kids safe. We successfully defended that law up to the federal court that’s one level below the Supreme Court of the United States. We will continue to fight against online predators who try to use the anonymity of the internet to harm our kids.”
The Attorney General’s Principal Deputy Solicitor General Jack Heyburn argued the attorney general’s office case before the Sixth Circuit, saying that the law complies with the First Amendment and is a reasonable safeguard to protect Kentucky’s children from online predators.
Unless the plaintiff seeks a review by the U.S. Supreme Court, the case will return to the federal district court.
The sponsor
In 2024, the General Assembly unanimously passed Senate Bill 249, sponsored by GOP Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, of Smithfield.
“As a mother and lawmaker, my priority is keeping children safe. The purpose of SB 249 is to stop convicted sex offenders from hiding who they are online and using social media to target kids,” Tichenor said. “With the court’s decision, SB 249 is now fully in effect to further protect children online and give families peace of mind. I’m grateful for the collaboration between the attorney general’s office and General Assembly in keeping Kentucky kids safe.”
Read the opinion here.
(Photo: Senate Bill 249 sponsor, Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
