From this afternoon's edition of Congressional Quarterly (subscription only):

SENATE PANEL BACKS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON VICTIMS' RIGHTS

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved today a proposal to amend the Constitution to specify certain rights for crime victims. The committee voted 10-8 to approve the bill, capping a markup that stretched over a series of meetings in recent months. The panel began marking up the measure (S J Res 1) before the August recess, but struggled to keep a working quorum. The resolution will not see Senate floor action for at least two months, if at all. The proposed amendment, sponsored by Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., would give victims or their representatives the right to be heard at public release, plea sentencing and other proceedings. It also would require judicial officials to consider victims' safety when deciding the fate of defendants.

If it goes to a full senate vote, it may be close. 66 votes (2/3) are needed to pass a constitutional amendment. The ACLU's Senate tally indicates 35 are opposed or likely opposed and 51 are in favor or likely in favor. Senate floor action before recess is unlikely because of the busy fall agenda. In the House, there likley will be a subcommittee hearing this fall.

Contact your elected officials now and oppose this amendment. It's the wrong answer to victim's rights. Here's more.

[Thanks again to Kyle O'Dowd, Legislative Director of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) for the update.]