|
Ballot
Measures November 2, 1999 Election � Vote- By-Mail |
|
WON |
68 |
YES |
|
Changes inmate
work program (sponsored by Senator Susan Castillo & Senate Minority
Leader Kate Brown)
REALITY: Measure
fixes problems in inmate work program mandate. |
|
The
"Mannix Seven" |
Overview:
Even the law against murder is not enshrined in the Constitution, but,
rather, in Statute, so that wise and timely modifications can be made
as unforeseen injustices arise. We would argue that even
were these changes necessary,
they certainly should not be "written in stone" in the
Oregon Constitution. Placing them in the Constitution to shield them
from the Legislature represents a fundamental misuse of the Amendment
process.
|
|
The
"Mannix Seven" |
|
WON |
69 |
NO |
|
Amends Constitution:
Supposedly grants victims constitutional rights in criminal prosecutions.
REALITY: Victims
already have these rights under Oregon law. Prosecutor will pick who the
victim is. Victims have no right to enforce this so-called "constitutional" right. |
|
LOST |
70 |
NO |
|
Amends Constitution:
Gives public, through prosecutor, right to demand jury trial in criminal
cases.
REALITY:
Prosecutor
can ignore victim (as well as defendant and judge) who does not want to
have jury trial (for example: sensational sex crime; DA with
political aspirations). |
|
WON |
71 |
NO |
|
Amends Constitution:
Limits pretrial release of accused persons.
REALITY: Current
law provides protection against release of persons accused of violent
crimes. Assumes person is guilty if arrested. Costs taxpayers millions
for jail space that does not currently exist. Revokes
fundamental tenet of legal tradition going back hundreds of years. |
|
LOST |
72 |
NO |
|
Amends
Constitution: Allows murder conviction by 11 to 1 jury.
REALITY: Currently,
murder conviction requires unanimous decision by jury. This is contrary
to proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Increases likelihood of
more innocent people found guilty. Louisiana is the only state that
allows murder conviction by less than 12-0. Juries virtually never hang
11-1; nearly always by a higher ratio. A
radical change to a fundamental concept of our legal system whose roots
in English common law go back to the Fourteenth Century! |
|
LOST |
73 |
NO |
|
Amends Constitution:
Limits immunity from criminal prosecution of persons ordered to testify
about conduct.
REALITY: Gives
state and local prosecutors same kind of unbridled power that special
prosecutor Ken Starr used against Susan McDougal. Erodes constitutional
protection against self-incrimination. Revokes
a fundamental tenet of legal tradition going back hundreds of years. |
|
WON |
74 |
NO |
|
Amends Constitution:
Requires terms of imprisonment announced in court to be fully served,
with rare exceptions.
REALITY: Takes
away power from the people and the legislature to change bad sentencing
laws. Prohibits release of prisoner if gravely ill even if victim agrees
to release. |
|
WON |
75 |
NO |
|
Amends Constitution:
Persons convicted of certain crimes cannot serve on grand juries,
criminal trial juries.
REALITY: Bars
persons convicted of felony within last 15 years or
"dishonest" or "violent" misdemeanor within last 5
years from serving on criminal juries. Requires state to background
check everyone called to jury duty or requires persons to self-report. |
|
|
WON |
76 |
no
�
position
|
|
Requires cost of roads
be split fairly between car & truck drivers.
|
