Marsy’s Law headed to voters

• Ed Mahon
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  Ed Mahon comes to Spotlight PA from PA Post, where he covered state politics and policy, produced radio stories that were broadcast on public media stations throughout the state and on NPR’s national newscasts, and co-wrote a weekday newsletter. Prior to joining PA Post, Ed worked for six years as an investigative and political reporter for the York Daily Record, part of the USA Today Network. His reporting on failures in Pennsylvania’s system for protecting domestic abuse victims was a finalist in the national 2018 Livingston Awards for Young Journalists in the local reporting category. He was also part of a team whose coverage of the criminal justice system, including the aggressive use of civil asset forfeiture by York County prosecutors, received the 2018 G. Richard Dew Award for Journalistic Service from the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association. Before joining the York Daily Record, Ed covered K-12 education at the Centre Daily Times in State College and worked as a stringer for suburban sections of The Philadelphia Inquirer. He grew up in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

 Bret Hartman / AP Images for Marsy'sLawForAll.org

A photo of Marsy Nicholas, the namesake for victim rights legislation that has passed in several states, sits against a chair during a 2013 rally in Santa Ana, Calif. Nicholas was killed in 1983.

State constitution could be amended

Bret Hartman / AP Images for Marsy'sLawForAll.org

A photo of Marsy Nicholas, the namesake for victim rights legislation that has passed in several states, sits against a chair during a 2013 rally in Santa Ana, Calif. Nicholas was killed in 1983.

• Voters will decide whether to approve a constitutional amendment that backers say would grant victims constitutionally protected rights on par with the rights that defendants have. Mark Scolforo of The Associated Press has the details on the latest developments, including a unanimous Senate vote Wednesday.

• In April, State of the State host Katie Meyer took a deep look at the issue. “Marsy’s Law does nothing — absolutely nothing — to take a right away from the defendant,” Rep. Sheryl Delozier, R-Cumberland County, told Katie. “All it does is allow the victim to have a role.”

• Katie also looked at the opposition to the changes, including from the ACLU of Pennsylvania. In an April memo, the group’s legislative director, Elizabeth Randol, said a constitutional amendment isn’t flexible, so it would be difficult to change if there are unforeseen consequences. Randol also said parts of the legislation “are dangerously broad or vaguely worded” — and will likely conflict with due process rights of defendants.

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Emma Lee/WHYY

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