Bill Text: OR SJR16 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Proposing amendment to Oregon Constitution relating to jury verdicts in criminal prosecutions.
Spectrum: Unknown
Status: (Failed) 2011-06-30 - In committee upon adjournment. [SJR16 Detail]
Download: Oregon-2011-SJR16-Introduced.html
76th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2011 Regular Session NOTE: Matter within { + braces and plus signs + } in an amended section is new. Matter within { - braces and minus signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within { + braces and plus signs + } . LC 306 Senate Joint Resolution 16 Printed pursuant to Senate Interim Rule 213.28 by order of the President of the Senate in conformance with presession filing rules, indicating neither advocacy nor opposition on the part of the President (at the request of Senate Interim Committee on Judiciary) SUMMARY The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's brief statement of the essential features of the measure as introduced. Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution to require unanimous verdicts by trial juries in criminal prosecutions. Refers proposed amendment to people for their approval or rejection at next regular general election. JOINT RESOLUTION Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon: PARAGRAPH 1. Section 11, Article I of the Constitution of the State of Oregon, is amended to read: { + Sec. 11. + } Rights of Accused in Criminal Prosecution. { + (1) + } In all criminal prosecutions, { - the accused shall have - } { + an accused person has + } the right { + : (a) + } { - to - } { + To + } public trial by an impartial jury in the county in which the offense { - shall have been - } { + was + } committed; { + (b) + } { - to - } { + To + } be heard { - by himself and - } { + on the accused person's own behalf and as represented by + } counsel; { + (c) + } { - to - } { + To + } demand the nature and cause of the accusation against { - him, - } { + the accused person + } and to have a copy { - thereof - } { + of the accusation + }; { + and (d) + } { - to - } { + To + } meet the witnesses { - face to face - } { + face-to-face + }, and to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in { - his - } { + the accused person's + } favor { - ; provided, however, that any - } { + . (2) + } { + Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, an + } accused person, in other than capital cases, and with the consent of the trial judge, may elect to waive trial by jury and consent to be tried by the judge of the court alone { - , such election to - } { + . An election under this subsection must + } be in writing { - ; - } { + . (3) + } { - provided, however, that in the circuit court ten members of the jury may render a verdict of guilty or not guilty, save and except a verdict of guilty of first degree murder, which shall be found only by a unanimous verdict, and not otherwise; provided further, that the existing laws and constitutional provisions relative to criminal prosecutions shall be continued and remain in effect as to all prosecutions for crimes committed before the taking effect of this amendment - } { + In all criminal prosecutions, a verdict of guilty or not guilty may be found only by a unanimous verdict + }. PARAGRAPH 2. { + The amendment proposed by this resolution shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election held throughout this state. + } ----------