FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 22, 2015

For more information, contact:
Amanda Godfread
218-791-1199
agodfread@odney.com

Marsys Law for North Dakota Language Approved for Circulation

BISMARCK, ND Sec. of State Al Jaeger today gave his approval for the Marsys Law for North Dakota
ballot language to be circulated for signatures among North Dakota voters. Marsys Law for North Dakota
proposes to elevate victims rights to an equal legal level with the rights of criminals, ensuring victims
have the right to be heard, to be notified of proceedings and to be free from harassment.
We look forward to talking with North Dakotans about the opportunity to elevate and secure
victims rights through Marsys Law for North Dakota, and to answer their questions about this important
proposal. Collecting the necessary signatures is an extraordinary chance to meet one-on-one with the
citizens who will be voting on this measure, said Kathleen Wrigley, chair of Marsys Law for North
Dakotas sponsoring committee. Most people do not know that when someone is victimized, the person
accused of hurting them automatically has stronger legal rights. It is important that we have this
conversation so that everyone understands the benefits Marsys Law will have for victims and their
families, who are thrust into the criminal justice system.
While there is an existing statutory law along these lines, Constitutional rights trump state law
every time. It is time for victims rights to be secured in our Constitution and elevated to the same
protection currently in place for criminal defendants. Marsys Law for North Dakota was written specifically
for North Dakota and will not diminish the rights already in place for criminal defendants. Instead, Marsys
Law for North Dakota further protects victims of crime, ensuring that their legal rights will be equally
protected under our Constitution, Wrigley said.
As the family member of a murder victim, I can attest to the difference Marsys Law will make for
North Dakotans, said Pam Perleberg, whose brother was killed in North Dakota this year. We have had
a difficult time getting information regarding the proceedings in his case and at times have had no
response at all to our inquiries. Marsys Law will help other families who are faced with tragedy like ours
so their situation is not compounded by a system that gives a murderer stronger rights than it gives us.
Marsys Law for North Dakota was submitted to the Secretary of States Office on December 15.
The campaign needs to gather 26,904 signatures by July 11, 2016, in order to qualify for the November
ballot.

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Paid for by Marsys Law for North Dakota, Kathleen Wrigley, Chair.