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Landmark Cases

Case Name: SPECHT v. PATTERSON, as warden

Date, Location, Cite: 1967 CO
386 US 605
US SUPREME COURT

Specht convicted of "indecent liberties" & sentenced to 10 years; CO sex offenders act said sex offenders were a threat to the public, and could be held up to life, based on psychiatric evaluation- Supreme Court said this was a violation of due process, he had a right to trial, with attorney, right to cross-examine, appeal, etc. "sex offender has the same rights as a defendant in murder trial"- therefore CO law was unconstitutional.
cf. Allen v. Illinois. - The more recent Hendricks v. Kansas finding subverts this.