Atlanta federal court issues preliminary ruling on Georgia sex offender statute
On Monday, a federal district court judge granted an injunction against a Georgia law which bans sex offenders from volunteering at churches. The injunction will prevent Georgia from enforcing the law.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution has the story.
District Judge Clarence Cooper held that allowing offenders to volunteer at churches will further public safety by providing support and stability. The plaintiffs offered testimony from several ministers who work with offenders about the healing power of volunteering at churches.
The ruling stems from a class-action suit on behalf of 16,000 sex offenders. The plaintiffs seek to overturn Georgia’s strict sex offender laws which have been described as the toughest in the country. Among the provisions, Georgia prohibits offenders from living or working within 1,000 feet of virtually anywhere children congregate. This includes schools, school bus stops, parks, pools, and churches. Plaintiffs also seek to permanently overturn the provision banning offenders from volunteering at churches. Monday’s ruling allowed this class-action suit to go forward.
Pate & Brody is an accomplished Georgia law firm with offices in Atlanta, Macon and Madison. Our lawyers are dedicated to pursuing justice for people charged with serious crimes. We have successfully represented clients facing serious federal criminal charges and state criminal charges in courts across Georgia. Our lawyers have been recognized on the list of Georgia's "Super Lawyers", and included among Georgia's "Legal Elite" by Georgia Trend Magazine. Our firm is also listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers by Martindale-Hubbell.
