States’ attorneys in North Dakota are being surveyed on the proposed Constitutional amendment for victims’ rights.
That initiative is dubbed “Marsy’s Law.” And the group pushing it is now circulating petitions to get it on the November ballot.
Aaron Birst of the North Dakota Association of Counties says recently, the supporters met with a group of prosecutors to discuss the law. Birst says the prosecutors who attended that meeting don’t like it.
"Any time you amend the Constitution, especially with some vague language, there's a potential for extra litigation," said Birst. "The states' attorney felt the victims' service efforts should be directed more at funding for victim/witness service coordinators. And the Constitutional amendment would not help them in their day to day jobs of helping victims."
Birst says the prosecutors appreciate the group raising the issue of victim’s rights. He says they feel, however, that the proposed amendment goes too far.
