The Montana Supreme Court delayed a voter-approved victim's rights law that was scheduled to take effect tomorrow.
According to the Associated Press, Marsy’s Law would give crime victims and their families the right to participate in judicial proceedings and be notified of key developments in a case. It would also expand their privacy rights.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana was one of five groups that challenged Marcy’s law.
Alex Rate, the Legal Director for the ACLU of Montana, said “first of all it allows the court time to hear reasoned arguments from all parties on the actual substantive issues that are raised in the petition to declare CI-116 unconstitutional.”
She added that, “second, it allows for those local governments that are guessing how to implement this law some respite when it comes to the figuring out how to proceed.”
Rate says victims of crimes deserve protections and he believes there are existing protections already in place that should be rigorously enforced.
“They passed a constitutional amendment which effectively changes or alters at least eight different provisions in our declaration of rights,” said Rate.
The state's high court said there was good cause to stay the law from being implemented as scheduled tomorrow.
Spokesperson for Marsy’s Law for Montana, Chuck Denowh said in a statement issued today, “any delay, especially one based on a complaint filed at the eleventh hour, would create confusion, and most importantly, deprive victims of the rights that an overwhelming majority chose to provide.”
Last fall, Montana became one of a handful of states to adopt Marsy's Law.
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