A federal appeals court has upheld a Kentucky law requiring registered sex offenders who committed crimes against minors to use their full name on social media, marking a victory for Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office and Daviess County Attorney John Burlew, who was originally sued over the measure.
The ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit allows Senate Bill 249 to be enforced statewide, rejecting a legal challenge from an anonymous Daviess County sex offender who sought to block the law. That individual filed suit in 2024 against Burlew, arguing the law violated First Amendment rights. Attorney General Coleman intervened in the case to defend the statute’s constitutionality in federal court.
“We are working relentlessly to protect our kids from predators online,” Coleman said in a statement. “Policy makers in the General Assembly passed a common-sense law to keep Kentucky kids safe. We successfully defended that law up to the federal court that’s one level below the Supreme Court of the United States.”
The Attorney General’s Office said the case will return to federal district court unless the plaintiff seeks review by the U.S. Supreme Court.
SB 249, sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Tichenor (R-Smithfield), was passed unanimously by the Kentucky General Assembly in 2024. It requires any registered sex offender in Kentucky who committed a crime against a minor to publicly identify themselves by full legal name if they choose to engage on social media.
Tichenor, who has emphasized the bill’s intent to curb online anonymity for known offenders, said she was pleased with the court’s ruling.
“As a mother and lawmaker, my priority is keeping children safe,” she said. “The purpose of SB 249 is to stop convicted sex offenders from hiding who they are online and using social media to target kids. With the court’s decision, SB 249 is now fully in effect to further protect children online and give families peace of mind.”
Burlew also praised the ruling, calling it a win for public safety and thanking the Attorney General’s Office for stepping in to defend the law.
“Kentucky’s leaders came together in a bipartisan way to protect our children online,” Burlew said. “I’m grateful to Attorney General Coleman and his staff, in particular Jack Heyburn, for taking up this fight on my behalf to keep kids safe.”
Heyburn, the Attorney General’s Principal Deputy Solicitor General, presented oral arguments in front of the Sixth Circuit. Coleman’s office successfully argued that the law is a reasonable and constitutional safeguard.
The case drew local and statewide attention when first filed in July 2024. The Owensboro Times reported extensively on the initial lawsuit and the reactions from state and local officials, as well as additional legal developments and Coleman’s federal defense.
A release from the Attorney General’s office said the legal defense marks another step in Coleman’s broader campaign to shield children from online exploitation. His office has also filed lawsuits against TikTok for its alleged harmful effects on youth and against online gaming platform Roblox for enabling environments where child exploitation could occur.
“This victory is part of a larger effort,” Coleman said. “We will continue to fight against online predators who try to use the anonymity of the internet to harm our kids.”
