Orrin Hatch: “the people who have followed the victims' rights amendment closely know that I voted for this measure in the Judiciary…”

“the people who have followed the victims' rights amendment closely know that I voted for this measure in the Judiciary Committee, and that I did so despite some reservations about its provisions and its language. No one has worked harder on this issue than the distinguished chairman of the Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and Government Information-- Senator Jon Kyl. He has been a tireless advocate for victims rights, and has done more than most will ever appreciate to make the Senate's consideration of this proposed resolution a reality. Both he, and his lead cosponsor and ranking member on the Subcommittee, Senator Dianne Feinstein, are to be commended. Frankly, they--and the committed network of victims' advocates--are why we are here today. It is because of their tireless commitment to this measure that I will vote to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to consideration of S.J. Res. 3. I should be clear, however, that I do so with some reservations concerning the proposed text of the amendment. But I hope my concerns can be addressed during the floor debate on the resolution. Among my reservations are: Its scope: the amendment's protections apply only to violent crimes; Its vagueness: some of its definitions are unclear and will be subject to too much judicial discretion; and Its effects on principles of federalism: the proposed amendment could pave the way for more federal control over state legal proceedings.”