DESCRIPTION FORECASTS CASES DATA MANUSCRIPTS   CONTRIBUTORS

Stogner v. California March 31, 2003 (01-1757) return to case listing Case Summary In 1998, Petitioner was charged with sexually abusing his two children more than 40 years before. There was, at that time, a three-year statute of limitations. The state argued, however, that a recently enacted law, Section 803 of the California penal code, extended the limitations period for certain sexual offenses committed against minors so long as the prosecution filed suit within one year of a victim's report to authorities. The state trial court found that Section 803 constituted an unconstitutional ex post facto law and did not apply to actions committed before it was enacted in 1994. The state appellate court reversed and held the law constitutional. The opinion of the California Court of Appeals is found at 93 Cal.App.4th 1229. To see the opinion of the lower court, click here. PREDICTED OUTCOME ACTUAL OUTCOME Forecasting Model Expert One Expert Two Expert Three 6-3 to Reverse 5-4 to Affirm 9-0 to Reverse 5-4 to Reverse 5-4 to Reverse VOTING TO REVERSE Stevens O'Connor Scalia Souter Ginsburg Breyer Stevens Souter Ginsburg Breyer Rehnquist Stevens O'Connor Scalia Kennedy Souter Thomas Ginsburg Breyer Stevens Scalia Souter Thomas Breyer Stevens O'Connor Souter Ginsburg Breyer VOTING TO AFFIRM Rehnquist Kennedy Thomas Rehnquist O'Connor Scalia Kennedy Thomas Rehnquist O'Connor Kennedy Ginsburg Rehnquist Scalia Kennedy Thomas return to case listing