Opinion ID: 2056690
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: As-Applied Versus Facial Analysis

Text: [¶ 33] Despite the Supreme Court's reference in Smith to record evidence regarding the circumstances of the individual offenders in its analysis of whether Alaska's act imposed an affirmative disability or restraint, Smith, 538 U.S. at 99-100, 123 S.Ct. 1140 (Here, we inquire how the effects of the Act are felt by those subject to it.), ex post facto challenges to a statute must be considered in relation to the statute on its face, absent evidence of legislative intent as to the penal nature of the statute, and not on an as-applied basis. Mendoza-Martinez, 372 U.S. at 169, 83 S.Ct. 554. Our opinion in Doe indicated that subsequent ex post facto challenges to SORNA of 1999 would require courts to consider whether the law has a punitive effect as applied to the individual defendant or defendants making the challenge. See Doe, 2007 ME 139, ¶¶ 28-37, 932 A.2d at 561-63. [¶ 34] We recognize today that the as-applied ex post facto analysis suggested in Doe is inconsistent with precedent. Moreover, it will result in inconsistent outcomes and unnecessarily invite individuals to challenge the constitutionality of the statute based on their personal circumstances. If courts entertain as-applied challenges, SORNA of 1999 might be found constitutional when applied retroactively to some individuals, but unconstitutional when applied retroactively to others, with the fulcrum of each decision being the personal circumstances of each offender. The ex post facto prohibition is intended to act as a check on the exercise of legislative authority as it affects broad categories of persons, and is not intended to create an individual right to challenge a retroactive law based on the effect that the law has on each person's individual circumstances. For ex post facto purposes, SORNA of 1999 is properly evaluated on its face, and not in relation to how it has been applied against Letalien or other individuals. To the extent our opinion in Doe can be read to suggest the contrary, it is overruled. Thus, we turn to consider whether it has been established by clearest proof that the effects of SORNA of 1999 are so punitive as to overcome the civil characterization.