On 22 September 2015, federal judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange sentenced Doug Williams to 24 months in prison following his guilty plea to charges connected with his having taught undercover federal agents how to pass or beat a polygraph “test.” Her sentencing order further instructs that upon release (scheduled for 26 July 2017), Williams will be subjected to three years’ “supervised release” during which time he “shall not participate in any form of polygraph-related activity.”
This prohibition on participation “in any form of polygraph-related activity” curtails Williams’ 1st Amendment right to free speech and severely limits the self-employed 71-year-old’s ability to earn a living.
On 21 November 2016, Williams filed a pro se motion (PDF) for modification of the terms of his supervised release. Citing relevant 10th Circuit Court of Appeals precedent, Williams asks the court to modify the conditions of his release to allow him to engage in polygraph-related activity to the extent that it is not “intended or part of a scheme to defraud the United States or tamper with witnesses.”
At the time of writing, the United States Attorney’s Office has not filed a response.