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H.J.R. 2

             1     

RESOLUTION ON VICTIM'S RIGHTS

             2     
2000 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Sponsor: Gary F. Cox

             5      A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATURE PROPOSING TO AMEND RULE 615 OF
             6      THE UTAH RULES OF EVIDENCE REGARDING THE EXCLUSION OF WITNESSES FROM
             7      THE COURTROOM; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
             8      This resolution proposes to amend the Utah Rules of Evidence as follows:
             9      AMENDS:
             10           Rule 615, Utah Rules of Evidence
             11      Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, two-thirds of all members elected to each of
             12      the two houses voting in favor thereof:
             13          As provided in Utah Constitution Article VIII, Section 4, the Legislature may amend rules
             14      of procedure and evidence adopted by the Utah Supreme Court upon a two-thirds vote of all
             15      members of both houses of the Legislature:
             16          Section 1. Rule 615 , Utah Rules of Evidence is amended to read:
             17           Rule 615. Exclusion of witnesses.
             18          (1) At the request of a party the court shall order witnesses excluded so that they cannot
             19      hear the testimony of other witnesses, and it may make the order on its own motion. This rule does
             20      not authorize exclusion of:
             21          (a) a party who is a natural person;
             22          (b) an officer or employee of a party which is not a natural person designated as its
             23      representative by its attorney;
             24          (c) a person whose presence is shown by a party to be essential to the presentation of the
             25      party's cause; [or]
             26          (d) a victim in a criminal or juvenile delinquency proceeding where the prosecutor agrees
             27      with the victim's presence[.]; or


             28          (e) a victim counselor, unless the defendant establishes that the counselor is a material
             29      witness whose testimony would be materially affected by hearing the testimony of other witnesses
             30      at the proceeding.
             31          (2) The court may exclude or excuse a victim from the courtroom if the victim becomes
             32      disruptive.
             33          (3) A victim in a criminal or juvenile delinquency proceeding who elects to be present in
             34      the courtroom may not be prevented from testifying, even after being present and having heard
             35      other testimony.
             36          (4) As used in this rule, "victim counselor":
             37          (a) means a person who is employed by or volunteers at any office, institution, or center
             38      assisting victims of crimes and their families which offers crisis intervention or support, medical
             39      or legal services, or counseling; and
             40          (b) includes a "sexual assault counselor" as defined in Section 78-3c-3 , Utah Code
             41      Annotated.
             42          Section 2. Effective date.
             43          As provided in Utah Constitution Article VIII, Section 4, this act takes effect upon approval
             44      by a constitutional two-thirds vote of all members elected to each house.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 12-23-99 8:32 AM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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