CONTACT: Van Wanggaard
May 15, 2019 608-266-1832
Marsy’s Law Gains Overwhelming Bipartisan Support for April 2020 Ballot
MADISON – Voters will have the opportunity to support a new crime victims’ rights
constitutional amendment after the Wisconsin’s legislature passed Senate Joint Resolution 2 with overwhelming bipartisan support today. Marsy’s Law will be before voters during the April 2020 election.
“This is a great day for crime victims in Wisconsin,” said the amendment’s author, Senator Van Wanggaard (R-Racine). “Victims shouldn’t be treated as second class citizens in the criminal justice system. They deserve to be treated with respect and equal rights.”
Senate Joint Resolution 2, known as “Marsy’s Law,” expands and elevates the rights of crime victims under Wisconsin’s constitution. Among the rights that victims will gain under the proposed amendment are: the right to privacy, to be treated with dignity and respect, to be heard in court, and the right to say no to intrusive discovery and interview requests. The proposed amendment also states that these rights do not supersede a defendant’s rights in the courtroom.
“Everyone can name a defendant’s rights, and that’s how it should be for victims, too,” said
Wanggaard. “When voters show their support for victims next April, they’ll finally be treated with the respect they deserve.”
Senate Joint Resolution 2 passed the Senate on a 27-4 vote, and the Assembly 82-15. This
follows passage by similar votes last year. The proposed amendment will be before voters during the April 7, 2020 election.
