Director, Commonwealth Policy Center

There's an effort to restore rights to victims of crime in Kentucky. It's called Marsy's law and it requires the courts to notify crime victims and their families of judicial proceedings and parole hearings. But Franklin Circuit Court Judge Thomas Wingate struck down the law. Wingate said the ballot language isn't accurate. The question will still be on the ballot since they've already been printed but Wingate ordered that the votes not be certified. The question on the November 6 ballot asks “Are you in favor of providing constitutional rights to victims of crime, including the right to be treated fairly, with dignity and respect, and the right to be informed and to have a voice in the judicial process?” Voters are encouraged to vote on it since the case is being appealed to the state Supreme Court.