According to a recent report in the Courier-Journal, the upcoming ballot initiative to amend Kentucky’s constitution is called the “Marsy’s law”. The state is well known for its constitutional amendments. A number of amendments have been passed to protect the freedoms of individuals and businesses. The constitutional amendments are commonly referred to as “amendments to the constitution”.
The proposed amendment to the Kentucky constitution would make it possible to have a person accused of a crime receive the same procedural rights and protections as an innocent victim who has not yet been convicted of a crime. The amendment would also make it possible for people to recover lost wages and property after being wrongly accused.
The amendments would specifically make it possible for a victim to obtain the right to be represented by a private attorney who would be appointed by the victim. If the amendment were passed and ratified by voters then the prosecutor would have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of a crime before prosecuting the defendant.
The amendment would also make it possible to obtain a civil jury trial in which an innocent individual can seek damages from the defendant in civil court. Also, it would allow those victims who have been wrongly accused of crimes to recover damages from the criminals in civil court.
If passed the proposed constitutional amendment to the Kentucky constitution could make a significant impact on the way justice is served in the state. The proposed amendment may be one of the most important constitutional amendments to ever be passed in Kentucky.
If passed, the amendment would also have implications for law enforcement agencies. Currently there are two separate systems of justice in Kentucky, both of which depend upon the criminal justice system for their functioning.
The Kentucky Criminal Justice Commission is made up of twelve members, all appointed by the Governor, including two members appointed by the governor and approved by the Supreme Court and two members chosen by the Attorney General, Jill Bates of Kentucky. The commission works under the Kentucky General Assembly.
Jill Bates of Kentucky is the official prosecutor for the Attorney General’s Office. Currently the AG is prosecuting several cases in Kenton County which involve former city police officers accused of excessive force. The county is still prosecuting these officers despite the fact that the defendants in those cases are being charged with misdemeanors.
Currently, the Criminal Justice Commission is under the authority of the General Assembly. The commission consists of a number of elected and appointed members, both of whom are elected. There are six members of the General Assembly, two of whom are appointed by the Governor, two by the speaker of the House of Representatives, two by the Senate, and one each by the Secretary of State and Attorney General. These representatives serve four-year terms.
