AG Roy Cooper's Job Performance Under Fire For Poor Defense Of Critical Sex Offender Law | Eastern North Carolina Now

Attorney General Roy Cooper's defense of a critical state law protecting minors from sex offenders is facing criticism after a federal judge ruled against the state and in favor of a group of sex offenders

ENCNow
Press Release:

    Raleigh, N.C.     Attorney General Roy Cooper's defense of a critical state law protecting minors from sex offenders is facing criticism after a federal judge ruled against the state and in favor of a group of sex offenders. In April of 2016, U.S. Federal District Court Judge James A. Beaty, Jr. struck down a provision of the 'Jessica Lunsford Act of NC' banning registered sex offenders from areas within 300 feet from places designated for children and cast doubt about the vigorousness of Cooper's defense in his ruling.

    Yesterday, Senator Buck Newton introduced legislation to restore that provision in light of Cooper's weak defense of the law.

    WATCH: Senator Buck Newton Criticizes Attorney General Roy Cooper's Defense Of State Law

    "...the attorney general offered nothing beyond anecdotal evidence of any connection between adult-victim offenders and future crimes against minors. Indeed, the attorney general's office declined an express request by the court to offer expert testimony or statistical evidence on that connection-a development the federal judge described as "somewhat unexpected." (Jamie Markham, "Federal Judge Enjoins 300-Foot Rule for Sex Offenders," UNC School of Government Criminal Law Blog, 4/28/2016) The federal judge criticized Cooper's strategy in handling the case, questioning why his office failed to present better evidence to support his defense even after given the opportunity to do so.

    Since the judge's ruling, Cooper has yet been silent on his office's handling of the case.

In Case You Missed It:

    "Lawmakers Rewriting Child Sex Offense Law To Comply With Judge's Ruling" (Craig Jarvis, "Lawmakers rewriting child sex offense law to comply with judge's ruling," The News & Observer, 6/16/2016)

    "[Sen. Buck] Newton criticized current Attorney General Roy Cooper, a Democrat, for his defense of [the] state's ban, saying Cooper dropped the ball on public safety." (Anna Gronewold, "Bill seeks to protect children from sex offenders," The Associated Press, 6/16/2016)

  • Contact: The Pat McCrory Committee
  •     media@patmccrory.com

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