FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 15, 2017

OKLAHOMA HOUSE RULES APPROVES HJR 1002 8-0 IN COMMITTEE HEARING 

Will be heard on House Floor as early as Tuesday next week

OKLAHOMA CITY – The House Rules Committee on Tuesday, February 14, unanimously voted 8-0 in favor of accelerating steps in the legislative process in order to eventually place a state question on the 2018 ballot to give crime victims equal constitutional rights to those of the accused. 

The mother of a victim from Payne County and a victim of domestic violence from Grady County were in attendance at the hearing to show their support of the bill. 

“I was moved to be part of Marsy’s Law for Oklahoma at the state capital yesterday,” said Tina Jones, a survivor of 25 years of domestic abuse. “And also very excited to see that the people who we have entrusted to make decisions, understand how important it is for victims of abuse to have an equal voice in our judicial system as the abuser.”

HJR 1002, co-authored by Rep. Scott Biggs, R-Chickasha, is also known as Marsy’s Law for Oklahoma which, once passed by the legislature and approved by voters, would ensure that crime victims and their families are provided with the same level of equal, or “co-equal,” constitutional rights as those afforded and guaranteed to the accused or convicted. This would effectively amend the Bill of Rights, Section 34 of Article II of the Oklahoma Constitution.   

“The unanimous vote in support of Marsy’s Law OK gave me more hope in our system than I have experienced in the last 26 months,” Kelly Vierling, the mother of a homicide victim, said. “The current system tends to rest on believing the only person fighting for their lives and well-being are the accused, giving no weight to what it takes for a victim to carry on and find a way to even begin to resemble the person the once were.” 

Five states have already passed Marsy’s Law legislation, which is named after Marsalee “Marsy” Nicholas of California who was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983.

HJR 1002 is now eligible to be heard by the full House. 

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