[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website] heard oral arguments [day call, PDF] in two cases Tuesday. In Nichols v. United States [transcript, PDF] the court heard arguments [SCOTUSblog backgrounder] on whether the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) [LLI materials] requires that sex offenders update their residency information if they move outside of US jurisdiction. In 2003 Lester Nichols was charged [Oyez summary] with intent to engage in sex with a minor. Under SORNA, Nichols was required to register his residency. In 2012, Nichols moved to the Philippines and did not update his residency information. He was arrested in the Philippines for not registering, and the trial court convicted him. The US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit [official website] affirmed his conviction.

The court also heard arguments in Husky International Electronics v. Ritz [transcript, PDF] on whether [SCOTUSblog backgrounder] fraudulently transferred money used to avoid payment of a debt is considered false representation under 11 USC §523(a)(2)(A) [LLI materials]. The case arose [Oyez summary] after Husky sold electronic equipment to Chrysalis Manufacturing Corp, which is headed by Daniel Ritz. Chrysalis owed Husky $163,999.38. In 2007 Ritz began transferring funds from Chrysalis to other accounts and ventures in which he owned stock. In 2009 Husky sued Ritz for the outstanding debt, and Ritz subsequently filed for bankruptcy. In 2011 Husky filed a complaint alleging that Ritz had fraudulently moved funds from Chrysalis to other accounts and ventures in order to be able to file for bankruptcy. The US Appeals Court for the Fifth Circuit [official website] affirmed the lower court’s decision to discharge Ritz’s debt.