Lamberty v. State ( 2015 )

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
JUAN LAMBERTY, §
§ No. 232, 2014
Defendant Below- §
Appellant, § Court Below: Superior Court
§ of the State of Delaware in and
v. § for New Castle County
§
STATE OF DELAWARE, § No. 1301006733
§
Plaintiff Below- §
Appellee. §
Submitted: January 21, 2015
Decided: January 30, 2015
Before RIDGELY, VALIHURA, and VAUGHN, Justices.
ORDER
On this 30th day of January 2015, it appears to the Court that:
(1) Defendant-below/Appellant Juan Lamberty (“Lamberty”) appeals from a
Superior Court Order denying his motion to dismiss, as well as a subsequent
conviction and sentence for Failure to Properly Report as a Registered Sex
Offender (“FPRRSO”) under 11 Del C. § 4120 et seq., the Sex Offender
Registration Statute (“SORS”).1 Lamberty raises two claims on appeal. First,
Lamberty contends that the trial court erred by holding that the SORS did not
violate the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution. Second,
1
See 11 Del. C. § 4120(g)(2) (“A Tier II offender shall appear in person at locations designated
by the Superintendent of the Delaware State Police to verify all registry information every 6
months unless relieved of registration obligations.”).
1
Lamberty contends that the trial court erred by holding that 11 Del. C. § 4120(g)(2)
did not improperly delegate legislative power to the Delaware State Police
Superintendent. We find no merit to Lamberty’s claims. Accordingly, we affirm.
(2) In March 2004, Lamberty pled guilty to rape in the fourth degree. As a
result of that conviction, Lamberty was designated a Tier II sex offender pursuant
to 11 Del. C. § 4121(d)(2)a.2 11 Del. C. § 4120(g)(2) requires Tier II sex offenders
to register with the Delaware State Police every six months at locations designated
by the Superintendent of the Delaware State Police.3 In November 2012, Lamberty
appeared in person to register as a sex offender. At that time, Lamberty registered
as “homeless” in the city of Wilmington. Pursuant to 11 Del. C. § 4121(k)(2), all
registered Tier II sex offenders designated “homeless” are required to register with
the Delaware State Police every thirty days.4 In December 2012, Lamberty failed
to register as required. In January 2013, a warrant was issued for Lamberty’s
arrest, and Lamberty was taken into custody. When asked why he did not register,
Lamberty stated that he did not have money to travel to the designated reporting
location. His counsel has conceded he did not ask for a waiver of any registration
2
11 Del. C. § 4121(d)(2)a.
3
11 Del. C. § 4120(g)(2).
4
11 Del. C. § 4121(k).
2
fee due to indigency. Lamberty was charged with FPRRSO under 11 Del. C. §
4121(r).5
(3) In April 2013, Lamberty filed a motion to dismiss, which alleged that the
SORS, and specifically 11 Del. C. § 4121(k), were unconstitutional. The trial
court denied Lamberty’s motion. The trial court found that “[r]equiring a homeless
person to register more often and with more detail assists in their supervision, as
set forth in the Sex Offender Registration Statute’s purpose.”6 Based on this
finding, the trial court held that the SORS did not violate the Constitution’s equal
protection clause because the statute was rationally related to serving a legitimate
state purpose. The trial court also held that the SORS was a valid delegation of
legislative power since “the legislature did not confer ‘unguided and uncontrolled
discretionary power’ upon the State Police Superintendent.”7 Lamberty was
thereafter convicted of FPRRSO. This appeal followed.
(4) “Constitutional claims are subject to plenary or de novo review to
determine whether the Superior Court committed an error of law.”8 “When our
‘review is of a constitutional nature, there is a strong presumption that a legislative
5
11 Del. C. § 4121(r) (“Any sex offender who knowingly or recklessly fails to comply with any
provision of this section shall be guilty of a class G felony.”).
6
Appellant’s Op. Br. App. at A91.
7
Appellant’s Op. Br. App. at A93.
8
Sheehan v. Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, 15 A.3d 1247, 1258 (Del. 2011) (citing Abrams v.
State, 689 A.2d 1185, 1187 (Del. 1997)).
3
enactment is constitutional.’”9 “We resolve all doubts in favor of the challenged
legislative act.”10
(5) Lamberty first claims that 11 Del. C. § 4121(k) violates the Equal
Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
“The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment . . . protects against
arbitrary and capricious classifications, and requires that similarly situated persons
be treated equally.”11 When a statutory classification does not involve “a
fundamental right or . . . a suspect classification, the constitutionality of the statute
is presumed and the classification need only relate rationally to a legitimate state
interest.”12 “[E]qual protection does not mandate identical treatment for all
persons, but rather that in the event of distinctive treatment for persons within a
class, there be a reasonable basis for the distinction.”13 “For a legislative
distinction to be found so unreasonable as to be discriminatory and a denial of a
right of equal protection, the distinction must be found to be ‘patently arbitrary’
and to bear ‘no rational relationship to a legitimate governmental interest.’”14
9
Id. (quoting Wien v. State, 882 A.2d 183, 186 (Del. 2005)).
10
Id. (citing State v. Baker, 720 A.2d 1139, 1144 (Del.1998)).
11
Sisson v. State, 903 A.2d 288, 314 (Del. 2006) (citing Hughes v. State, 653 A.2d 241, 247
(Del. 1994)).
12
Prices Corner Liquors, Inc. v. Delaware Alcoholic Beverage Control Comm’n, 705 A.2d 571,
575 (Del. 1998).
13
Marine v. State, 607 A.2d 1185, 1207 (Del. 1992).
14
Id. (quoting Gotleib, 406 A.2d at 275).
4
Lamberty has the burden of showing a lack of rational justification for the
classification created by the SORS.15
(6) Lamberty, highlighting the fact that there are only two reporting
locations in Delaware where sex offenders may register, argues that the increased
reporting requirements mandated by 11 Del. C. § 4121(k) for homeless sex
offenders arbitrarily and unreasonably discriminate against the homeless.
Lamberty contends that these mandatory requirements have no rational basis to any
legitimate government purpose, and thus violate his constitutional right to equal
protection.
(7) Lamberty’s first claim lacks merit. Lamberty does not contend that
homeless sex offenders are a suspect class, or that the SORS burdens a
fundamental right. Thus, Lamberty has the heavy burden of showing that the
SORS as a whole, or 11 Del. C. § 4121(k) individually as applied to him, is not
rationally related to any legitimate government interest.16 Because Lamberty has
failed to satisfy this heavy burden here, we must affirm.
(8) First, as to the constitutionality of the SORS as a whole, 11 Del. C. §
4120A explicitly provides a legitimate government purpose for the SORS’s
enactment: “The General Assembly hereby declares that the comprehensive
15
Helman v. State, 784 A.2d 1058, 1074–75 (Del. 2001) (citing Kimel v. Florida Board of
Regents, 528 U.S. 62, 84–85 (2000)).
16
See id. at 1075 (describing the burden of showing a lack of rational justification for a statutory
classification under an equal protection claim as a “heavy one”).
5
evaluation, identification, classification, treatment, and continued monitoring of
sex offenders who are subject to the supervision of the criminal justice system is
necessary in order to work toward the reduction of recidivism by such offenders.”17
We have also explicitly stated that, “The purpose of the sex offender registration
and notification statutes is to protect the public from the danger and propensity for
recidivism of convicted sex offenders.”18 By requiring that convicted sex
offenders continuously register, the SORS directly advances this stated purpose.
Lamberty offers no valid argument as to why this interest alone is not a sufficient
basis to uphold the constitutionality of the SORS. Accordingly, he has failed to
meet his burden under the rational basis standard of review.
(9) Lamberty’s argument that 11 Del. C. § 4121(k) independently violates
the Equal Protection Clause is also unpersuasive. The General Assembly’s
distinction between a sex offender and a homeless sex offender is a reasonable one.
Unlike a sex offender with a permanent residence, a homeless sex offender does
not have a fixed address, making it likely that they will change locations more
often than those who have a permanent residence. 11 Del. C. § 4121(k) accounts
for a homeless sex offender’s mobility and varying residences by mandating more
frequent registration. Requiring a homeless sex offender to register more often
assists police in their supervision, and directly contributes to the SORS’ stated
17
11 Del. C. § 4120A.
18
Helman, 784 A.2d at 1075.
6
purpose of continued monitoring of sex offenders for the public’s protection.
Therefore, we conclude that 11 Del. C. § 4121(k) is rationally related to a
legitimate government interest, and does not violate the Equal Protection Clause.
(10) Lamberty next argues that 11 Del. C. § 4121 improperly delegates
legislative power to the Superintendent of the Delaware State Police. “The
General Assembly need not spell out every detail concerning the administration of
a law.”19 “A statute does not unlawfully delegate legislative power, if the statute
‘establish[es] adequate standards and guidelines for the administration of the
declared legislative policy and for the guidance and limitation of those in whom
discretion has been vested.’”20 “‘Adequate safeguards and standards to guide
discretion must be found in or be inferable from the statute, but the standards need
not be minutely detailed, and the whole ordinance may be looked into in light of its
surroundings and objectives for purposes of deciding whether there are standards
and if they are sufficient.’”21
(11) “[A]t times, the General Assembly may better achieve its legislative
goals by deferring to an administrative agency’s greater skill and knowledge.”22
“[W]hen the authority in question deals with the protection of public morals,
19
In re Request of Governor for Advisory Opinion, 12 A.3d 1104, 1110 (Del. 2009) (citing
Marta v. Sullivan, 248 A.2d 608, 609 (Del. 1968)).
20
Id. (quoting Marta, 248 A.2d at 609).
21
Atlantis I Condo. Ass’n v. Bryson, 403 A.2d 711, 713 (Del. 1979) (quoting State v. Durham,
191 A.2d 646, 649–50 (Del. 1963)).
22
In re Request of Governor for Advisory Opinion, 12 A.3d at 1110 (citing Raley v. State, 1991
WL 235357, at *3 (Del. 1991)).
7
health, safety or general welfare, more latitude is given the agency in order to
provide the flexibility necessary to carry out the legislative will.”23 “‘[T]he true
distinction is between the delegation of power to make the law . . . and conferring
authority and discretion as to its execution, to be exercised in pursuance of the
law.’”24
(12) Lamberty contends that the SORS impermissibly delegates legislative
power to the Delaware State Police Superintendent. Specifically, Lamberty
contends that § 4121 improperly grants the Superintendent unfettered discretion to
designate reporting locations. We disagree. In enacting the registration statute, the
legislature limited the authority of the Superintendent by providing: “Any agency
responsible for complying with this section may promulgate reasonable
regulations, policies and procedures for the purpose of implementing this
section.”25 Thus, the statute requires that the locations designated by the
Superintendent be objectively reasonable. Although this standard is not exacting,
it is an acceptable standard for legal delegation in the instant case because the
SORS was enacted for the purpose of protecting the general welfare of the public.
The language of the SORS suggests that the General Assembly purposely deferred
to the expertise of the Superintendent to implement its will by granting the
23
Raley, 1991 WL 235357, at *2 (citing Durham, 191 A.2d at 646).
24
Atlantis I Condo. Ass’n, 403 A.2d at 713 (quoting Hoff v. State, 197 A. 75, 79 (Del. Super.
1938)).
25
11 Del. C. § 4120(i).
8
Superintendent more flexibility in enforcing an effective sex offender registration
system. Accordingly, we hold that the SORS registration procedures are
reasonable, and the product of a lawful delegation of legislative power.26
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the judgment of the Superior
Court is AFFIRMED.
BY THE COURT:
/s/ Henry duPont Ridgely
Justice
26
During the course of this appeal, Lamberty has identified the lack of a specific regulation
allowing waiver of registration fees due to indigency and the absence of any location for a citizen
residing in Sussex County to register in that county. These are proper subjects for the
Superintendent and/or the General Assembly to consider.
9