Third District State Senator Whitney Westerfield has filed a bill that was passed and approved by citizens of Kentucky in 2018 but overturned by the state’s Supreme Court in 2019.
Marsy’s Law would create rights for victims of crime, with Westerfield adding the state only has statutory rights for victims of about a dozen crimes. Under state law, a vast majority of victims have no rights and the bill would give them a voice.
Westerfield adds the law would give victims a right to be present, a right to be notified of proceedings and a defender’s release, and basic fundamental rights. A new provision of the bill would allow victims to have the right to be heard and notified in the consideration of any pardon, commutation of sentence, or granting of a reprieve.
A question concerning the law was placed on the General Election ballot in November 2018 but was struck down because the Supreme Court agreed the wording of the question was not proper.
Westerfield says the new legislation includes a proper question that could be placed on the election ballot.
