Post by Logan on Feb 21, 2016 7:14:18 GMT -6
Will Marsy's Law let victims decide if they testify at trial? ND supporters say no, but critics worry it will
FARGO — Critics of a proposal to add rights for crime victims to the North Dakota Constitution say the amendment could allow victims to demand to take the witness stand at trial, even over a prosecutor's objections.
But proponents of Marsy's Law for North Dakota, who began circulating petitions last week in hopes of having it put to a statewide vote in November, maintain that's a misinterpretation of the proposed amendment's language.
"It doesn't create a victim industry whereby victims get to march into a courtroom and demand to testify at a trial," said Kathleen Wrigley, chairwoman of the sponsoring committee and wife of Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley.
The line in question spells out one of the rights Marsy's Law would guarantee victims: "The right to be heard in any proceeding involving release, plea, sentencing, adjudication, disposition or parole, and any proceeding during which a right of the victim is implicated."
Read more: www.inforum.com/news/3952674-will-marsys-law-let-victims-decide-if-they-testify-trial-nd-supporters-say-no-critics
FARGO — Critics of a proposal to add rights for crime victims to the North Dakota Constitution say the amendment could allow victims to demand to take the witness stand at trial, even over a prosecutor's objections.
But proponents of Marsy's Law for North Dakota, who began circulating petitions last week in hopes of having it put to a statewide vote in November, maintain that's a misinterpretation of the proposed amendment's language.
"It doesn't create a victim industry whereby victims get to march into a courtroom and demand to testify at a trial," said Kathleen Wrigley, chairwoman of the sponsoring committee and wife of Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley.
The line in question spells out one of the rights Marsy's Law would guarantee victims: "The right to be heard in any proceeding involving release, plea, sentencing, adjudication, disposition or parole, and any proceeding during which a right of the victim is implicated."
Read more: www.inforum.com/news/3952674-will-marsys-law-let-victims-decide-if-they-testify-trial-nd-supporters-say-no-critics