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FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2003

The Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a California law that allowed prosecution of sex abuse cases even after the statute of limitations had expired.

The 5-4 ruling affects Marion R. Stogner, a current resident of the Gila River Reservation on Arizona. He was accused of molesting his two daughters while the family lived in California.

Justice Stephen G. Breyer wrote for the majority and was joined by Justices John Paul Stevens, Sandra Day O'Connor, David Souter and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote a dissent, which was joined by Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.

The case is Stogner v. California, No. 01-1757.

Get the Story:
Court Strikes Down California Law That Lifted Statute of Limitations (The Washington Post 6/27)
Court Limits the Prosecution of Sexual Abusers of Children (The New York Times 6/27)
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Get the Decision:
Syllabus | Opinion [Breyer] | Dissent [Kennedy]