Court Opinion

ID: 4451872
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-10-31 14:06:59.650175+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:25:18.803203
License: Public Domain

RECORD IMPOUNDED

              NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
             APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION

                                  SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                  APPELLATE DIVISION
                                  DOCKET NOS. A-0060-18T1
                                              A-0572-18T1

IN THE MATTER OF
REGISTRANT B.B.
                                      APPROVED FOR PUBLICATION
_____________________
                                             October 31, 2019
IN THE MATTER OF                          APPELLATE DIVISION
REGISTRANT A.V.
_____________________

          Argued October 3, 2019 – Decided October 31, 2019

          Before Judges Koblitz, Whipple and Mawla.

          On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey,
          Law Division, Essex County, Docket Nos. ML-99-07-
          0009 and ML-99-07-0140.

          James H. Maynard argued the cause for appellant B.B.
          in A-0060-18 and appellant A.V. in A-0572-18
          (Maynard Law Office, LLC, attorneys; James H.
          Maynard, on the briefs).

          Frank J. Ducoat, Special Deputy Attorney
          General/Acting Assistant Prosecutor, argued the cause
          for respondent State of New Jersey (Theodore N.
          Stephens II, Acting Essex County Prosecutor,
          attorney; Frank J. Ducoat, of counsel and on the brief).

    The opinion of the court was delivered by

WHIPPLE, J.A.D.
     We hold improper a superfluous misleading paragraph added to orders

relieving sex offenders from N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6.4, their Community Supervision

for Life (CSL) obligations. Community Supervision Megan's Law registrants

B.B. and A.V. both sought and received relief from CSL obligations. The

court entered an order dated August 6, 2018, releasing B.B. from CSL, which

contained the following language:

           [Ordered] that this [c]ourt renders no decision as to
           any obligations that the Registrant may have in any
           other State or jurisdiction as a result of the
           Registrant's status as a convicted Sex Offender, and
           that, if applicable, same shall remain within the
           jurisdiction and purview of the laws of that State and
           shall remain in full force and effect unless and until
           relief is granted by that State or jurisdiction[.]

     On September 11, 2018, the court entered an order releasing A.V. from

his obligations under N.J.S.A. 2C:7-1 to -23, Megan's Law, as well as CSL.

           [Ordered] that any obligations that the Registrant may
           have in any other State or jurisdiction as a result of the
           Registrant's status as a convicted Sex Offender shall
           remain within the jurisdiction and purview of the laws
           of that State and shall remain in full force and effect
           unless and until relief is granted by that State or
           jurisdiction[.]

     In these consolidated appeals, both B.B. and A.V. appeal from the

inclusion of such language. We agree that the paragraphs are unnecessary and

improper and reverse.

                                                                        A-0060-18T1
                                       2
      In 1996, B.B. pled guilty to two counts of second-degree sexual assault,

N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(c), and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child,

N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(a). See In re Registrant B.B., No. A-5376-16 (App. Div.

July 25, 2018) (slip op. at 1). B.B. was sentenced to concurrent five-year

terms on the sexual assault counts, and a concurrent four-year term for the

endangering count, to be served at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center.

Id., slip op. at 2. B.B. was required to register under Megan's Law, N.J.S.A.

2C:7-2(g), and was subject to CSL upon his release from incarceration

pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6.4(b). On May 9, 2017, B.B. petitioned under

N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6.4(c) to terminate his CSL obligations. The motion judge

denied the motion, finding that he was "not firmly convinced that B.B. is not

likely to pose a threat to the safety of others if released from CSL." Id., slip

op. at 5. B.B. appealed the denial, and we reversed and remanded the matter

for entry of an order terminating B.B. from CSL. Id., slip op. at 12.

      B.B.'s counsel submitted a proposed form of order to the trial court,

which was also served on the State. Although it is not clear from the appellate

record, counsel asserts the State submitted a separate proposed form of order

to the court, but did not copy him. B.B.'s counsel received a copy of the

State's proposed order from the court and wrote a letter to the court objecting

to the inclusion of the subject paragraph. The motion judge entered the order

                                                                        A-0060-18T1
                                       3
granting B.B.'s petition to be released from CSL, but included the subject

paragraph. B.B. appealed.

      In 1998, A.V. was convicted of third-degree endangering the welfare of

a child, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(a). As part of his sentence he was subject to CSL

and Megan's Law registration.

      In 2018, A.V. petitioned the trial court for the termination of his

obligations under Megan's Law, and his CSL obligations. The motion judge

granted A.V.'s motion because A.V. remained offense-free for a period of

fifteen years and presented a low risk for re-offense. A.V.'s counsel alerted the

court that he submitted a form of order, which inadvertently included the

subject paragraph, and argued it should be removed because the language was

"extraterritorial" and therefore ultra vires.

      The motion judge disagreed and ordered A.V.'s termination from both

Megan's Law and CSL, but included the subject language in the order. A.V.

appealed. We consolidated both appeals.

      B.B. and A.V. raise the following issues on appeal:

             POINT 1: THE TRIAL COURT LACKED
             AUTHORITY     TO   ORDER     APPELLANTS'
             COMPLIANCE        WITH       UNSPECIFIED
             OBLIGATIONS,        IN       UNSPECIFIED
             JURISDICTIONS; AND, IN THE ABSENCE OF
             EITHER TERRITORIAL OR [IN PERSONAM]
             JURISDICTION, SUCH ORDERS ARE [ULTRA
             VIRES] AND MUST BE STRICKEN.

                                                                        A-0060-18T1
                                          4
                  A. THE TRIAL COURT'S ORDERS
                  REFERENCING "OBLIGATIONS THAT
                  THE REGISTRANT MAY HAVE IN
                  ANY     OTHER      STATE     OR
                  JURISDICTION AS A RESULT OF THE
                  REGISTRANT'S   STATUS    AS   A
                  CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER" FAIL
                  TO GIVE NOTICE OF PROSCRIBED
                  CONDUCT AND ARE ARBITRARY.

            POINT  2:  [THE]  COURT'S   ORDER                   IS
            EXTRATERRITORIAL AND [ULTRA VIRES].

            POINT 3: THE TRIAL COURT'S ORDERS RISK
            CONFUSING COURTS AND OFFICERS IN OTHER
            JURISDICTIONS,   AND    RISK   CREATING
            UNAUTHORIZED INFRINGEMENTS ON THE
            PROTECTED RIGHTS OF B.B. AND A.V.

            POINT 4: THE COURT LACKS ANY                       [IN
            PERSONAM] JURISDICTION OVER A.V.

            POINT 5: THE TRIAL COURT'S ORDER IS
            INCONSISTENT WITH THE FORM OF MEGAN'S
            LAW    AND     CSL    REMOVAL    ORDERS
            GENERATED     IN   OTHER   NEW    JERSEY
            JURISDICTIONS, RISKS CREATING CONFUSION
            AND INCONSISTENCY WITHIN THE NEW
            JERSEY COURTS AND PROSECUTOR'S OFFICES,
            AND,    BY   CREATING     DISPARITY    IN
            TERMINATION      ORDERS     BASED     ON
            GEOGRAPHY,      VIOLATES   THE    EQUAL
            PROTECTION PROVISIONS OF THE UNITED
            STATES AND NEW JERSEY CONSTITUTIONS. 1

1
  They also improperly raise a new argument in their reply brief, regarding
court orders of an advisory nature are not authorized by the court rules, which
we ignore. Borough of Berlin v. Remington Vernich & Eng'rs, 337 N.J. Super.
590, 596 (App. Div. 2001).

                                                                       A-0060-18T1
                                      5
      B.B. and A.V. argue that both of their respective orders seek to compel

compliance with "unknown and unspecified legal obligations in other

jurisdictions that may or may not exist." Therefore, they contend the order is

extraterritorial and ultra vires. They also contend that the orders lack adequate

notice of what conduct is proscribed, or prescribed, by law and thus, is

unconstitutionally vague and arbitrary.

      B.B. and A.V. further assert that the trial court, through the respective

orders, is attempting to maintain personal jurisdiction over them regarding the

possible application of the unspecified laws of foreign jurisdictions and thus,

fails to comply with the United States Constitution's Fourteenth Amendment

due process requirement. Additionally, B.B. and A.V. assert that the orders

create a risk of confusing courts and officers which results in disparate

treatment based on where each registrant lives within the state. A.V. also

argues that the order refers to him as a sex offender which is incorrect as a

matter of fact and law in the state of New Jersey and thus should be stricken

from the order.

      A.V. and B.B. both sought and were granted relief from their registration

obligations.   The subject paragraphs do not compel conduct or impose

additional restrictions upon B.B. and A.V. Indeed, they concede "[a]ny fair

reading of the plain language of the order must conclude that it is an order that

                                                                         A-0060-18T1
                                          6
orders nothing." Although we do not agree the respective orders maintain

personal jurisdiction over A.V. and B.B. in applying the unspecified laws of

foreign jurisdictions, potentially violating their Fourteenth Amendment due

process rights, we agree the paragraphs are ambiguous, unnecessary, and

capable of creating confusion. Moreover, we are not persuaded by the reasons

proffered by the state to support inclusion of such language.

      The State argues A.V. and B.B. are not aggrieved by orders that do not

compel or obligate them to engage in conduct and therefore, their appeals

should be dismissed for a lack of standing. The State also contends the court

made no error by including such language, as the purpose of including the

language was to inform A.V. and B.B. of obligations they could be subject to

in other jurisdictions and for "public safety." We reject the State's assertions.

      Clearly A.V. and B.B. have standing to challenge orders to which they

are subject. Although the language used by the court may not contain errors, 2

we do not consider the inclusion of the subject paragraphs as meaningless or

inconsequential.

2
  It is clear from the record that the motion judge's intent was to notify A.V. as
well as other jurisdictions that the order's effects were limited to New Jersey.
In A.V.'s hearing the motion judge stated "I think without the limiting
language of that paragraph then you're left with an order from this [c]ourt
which seems like it's terminating his obligations no matter where it may be."

                                                                          A-0060-18T1
                                        7
      In other contexts our Supreme Court stated the courts are forbidden from

"declar[ing the] rights or status of parties upon a state of facts which are

future, contingent and uncertain." Matter of N.J. Firemen's Ass'n Obligation to

Provide Relief Applications Under Open Pub. Records Act, 230 N.J. 258, 275

(2017) (alteration in original) (quoting Lucky Calendar Co. v. Cohen, 20 N.J.

451, 454 (1956)). Predicting B.B.'s and A.V.'s obligations under the laws of

other jurisdictions could not be more future, contingent, or uncertain.

      Sex offender registration and notification laws are widely used. The

statutes, regulations, and laws addressing sex offender registration and

notification in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, the five principal

United States territories, and over 125 federally recognized Indian Tribes 3 are

varied and complex. 4 Each local system makes its own determinations about

3
   Failure to register in other jurisdictions, as required under the Sex Offender
Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), potentially subjects both A.V.
and B.B. to additional consequences. See 18 U.S.C. § 2250(a). SORNA
established, among other things, a federal criminal offense covering any
individual who 1) "is required to register under [SORNA]," 2) "travels in
interstate or foreign commerce," and 3) "knowingly fails to register or update a
registration as required by [SORNA]." Ibid. Failure to comply with this
provision may subject B.B. and A.V. to fines, imprisonment of not more than
ten years, or both. Ibid.
4
  See U.S. Dep't. of Justice, Sex Offender Registration and Notification in the
United States: Current Case Law and Issues 1 (March 2018),
http://www.smart.gov/caselaw/Case-Law-Update-2018-Compiled.pdf.

                                                                          A-0060-18T1
                                        8
who is required to register, which crimes are registerable offenses, what

information offenders must provide, and what consequences are inherent in the

scheme.5

        The obstacles a previously-convicted sex offender faces when relocating

from one state to another, or simply travelling interstate, are not uniform.

Many jurisdictions require registration if a person is convicted of an out -of-

state offense that is comparable, similar, or substantially similar to one or more

of the receiving jurisdiction's registerable offenses.    The subject language

under consideration here offers nothing that adequately advises A.V. or B.B.,

or any potential receiving jurisdiction, of these potential broad consequences.

Compare Lozada v. S.C. Law Enf't Div., 719 S.E.2d 258, 259-61 (S.C. 2011)

(finding a Pennsylvania conviction for unlawful restraint to be a registerable

offense in South Carolina, as it is similar to a registerable offense in South

Carolina's registry), and Skaggs v. Neb. State Patrol, 804 N.W.2d 611, 616

(Neb. 2011) (California conviction of sex offense required registration in

Nebraska), with State v. Werneth, 197 P.3d 1195, 1198 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008)

(finding a previously convicted sex offender's Georgia conviction for child

molestation was not a registerable offense as it was not comparable to a

Washington sex offense).

5
    Ibid.

                                                                         A-0060-18T1
                                        9
      Moreover, A.V.'s order specifically states he remained offense-free for

more than fifteen years following his convictions, was not likely to pose a risk

to the safety of others, and did not present a risk of harm to the community.

These findings were uncontested by the State as to A.V.        As to B.B., we

reversed and remanded for an order terminating B.B. from CSL because the

record supported a finding he met the statutory requirements for such relief,

that is, he was not likely to commit another sexual offense and did not present

a risk of harm to others in the community.       The inclusion of the subject

paragraphs suggesting both might have obligations elsewhere could be

perceived as a veiled reservation as to these findings.     We have carefully

reviewed the record regarding all remaining arguments and determined they

are without sufficient merit to warrant discussion in a written opinion.         R.

2:11-3(e)(1)(E).

      Reversed and remanded for the entry of orders without the unnecessary

paragraphs consistent with this opinion. We do not retain jurisdiction.

                                                                          A-0060-18T1
                                      10