⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

The Eleventh Circuit considers how Brendan Wagner can seek an end to his federal sex-offender registration requirement. His conviction came before Congress enacted SORNA, the federal registration law, so his original sentence did not assign him one of its registration tiers. Those tiers determine how long registration lasts. Wagner says he belongs in the lowest tier and has maintained the clean record needed for an earlier end to registration. He first asked the court that sentenced him for relief, but it said it lacked jurisdiction in his closed criminal case. He then sued the Attorney General, arguing that no administrative process had been provided to determine his tier and apply the reduction. The district court dismissed that civil suit without deciding his tier. This appeal concerns whether the Administrative Procedure Act lets a court compel the Attorney General to provide such a process. It is important to separate access to a process from the ultimate question of whether Wagner qualifies for a reduction.

Brendan Wagner, Appellant v. U.S. Attorney General (No. 25-10110) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, argued November 5, 2026.