In T.L.P., Jr. v. PA State Police, Petitioner sought a writ of mandamus compelling the Pennsylvania State Police to comply with an order of the Court of Common Pleas of York County, discharging Petitioner from his responsibility to register as a sex offender under SORNA, 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9799.10 – .41. The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court granted Petitioner’s request. The Court ruled that the order from the Court of Common Pleas established that Petitioner had satisfied his sex offender registration requirements and discharged Petitioner from any further responsibility to register as a sex offender. The state police’s decision to ignore the order, believing the order was invalid and unenforceable, was no bueno. The state police cannot independently decide which court orders it will follow and which it will not.
