Judge Refuses to Toss Suit Over La. Sex Registry

A federal judge has refused to dismiss a class-action lawsuit that seeks to have roughly 400 people who were convicted of soliciting oral or anal sex for money under Louisiana's "crime against nature by solicitation" law removed from the state's sex offender registry.

U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman ruled Wednesday after hearing arguments by a lawyer representing Louisiana Attorney General James "Buddy" Caldwell's office and a plaintiffs' attorney.

Caldwell's office had argued that a recent change in state law leaves the potential class members without any valid claims.

Feldman ruled in April that the names of nine plaintiffs who were convicted of the same offense must be stricken from the registry. A separate suit filed after that ruling argues the ruling should be applied to anyone in the same position.