US v. Sanders, 09-3117

US v. Sanders, 09-3117, concerned a challenge to a conviction of defendant for violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) by traveling in interstate commerce without updating his sex offender registration.  In affirming, the court rejected defendant's argument, that the registration requirement imposed by SORNA was beyond the power of Congress to enact because it applies even to those individuals convicted to local offenses having no connection to interstate or foreign commerce. 

As stated in the decision: "Those persons who have been convicted of state sex offenses do not become liable for the failure to register unless they cross state lines, thereby becoming "instrumentalities" of interstate commerce making use of the interstate transportation routes which are the "channels" of such commerce."

Related Resource:

• Full text of US v. Sanders, 09-3117