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N.H. House Committee Gives 'Marsy's Law' Amendment Thumbs Down

NHPR Staff

A proposed constitutional amendment known as Marsy’s Law hit a road block with House lawmakers Wednesday.

The amendment is designed to give victims of crime a greater say in the criminal justice system by establishing a list of constitutional rights.

Supporters say it’s needed to level the playing field between victims and defendants, but opponents have raised concerns about whether the constitution is the right place to address the issue.

Those concerns apparently won out in a joint committee in the House that’s been debating the amendment. Lawmakers there voted 24-11 against the measure.

The vote is in stark contrast to the Senate, where the amendment sailed through with little opposition.

The amendment next heads to the full House for a vote. It will need a three-fifths majority to pass.

Jason Moon is a senior reporter and producer on the Document team. He has created longform narrative podcast series on topics ranging from unsolved murders, to presidential elections, to secret lists of police officers.
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