August 30, 2024
Baltimore, MD – In a sweeping, historic, and brilliant decision, the Supreme Court of Maryland has simultaneously vindicated the rights of Young Lee and his family, but also struck an enormous blow on behalf of all crime victims of Maryland. The effects of this blanket of common sense that the Court threw over a firestorm of assaults on the rights of victims will be widely quoted, even by the Courts of other states as they consider similar insults imposed on the rights of crime victims.
In this case, the Supreme Court of Maryland gets it. Crime Victims must be given an opportunity to be heard, and it must reasonable. Courts can no longer rush cases through court before victims can make the trip and arrange their schedules to attend. The Supreme Court of Maryland artfully defined the interplay between Maryland’s Victims’ Rights Amendment to its Constitution and the relevant protecting statutes that were enacted at the behest of Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center and its allies. The following simple concepts were established:
- Where a victim is entitled to notice, that notice must be meaningful and timely, so as to not adversely affect the rights of the victim to participate in the proceedings.
- Even where a statute is silent regarding the right of a victim to be heard, other factors must be considered to determine whether it is practicable to allow the victim to be heard.
- Once the victims’ rights enumerated in Maryland’s Constitution are implemented in statute, they cannot be undone by legislation to repeal those rights. Instead, any effort to repeal those rights would require further amendment to Maryland’s Constitution.
When this violation of the Lee Family’s rights of victims occurred, I made this observation: the decision of the Appellate courts would define whether the rights for which we have fought for forty-two years merely exist as paper promises, or as true human rights. This Supreme Court of Maryland has honored their oaths and followed the desires of the people of the State of Maryland, who voted with ninety-two-point four percent in favor of the Victims’ Rights Amendment. In this era where government often seems out of touch with the will of the citizens, this decision should give Marylanders a warm feeling that the Courts of Maryland have acknowledged the mandate of the people – who in democracy are the true sovereign leaders.
We sincerely thank the Court for their brilliance and attention to detail in this complex matter.
About Maryland Crime Victims’ Rights Center, Inc.
Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center Inc. ensures victims of crime receive justice and are treated with dignity and compassion through comprehensive victims’ rights and services. MCVRC is a grassroots non-profit organization that became a statewide organization dedicated to serving the interest of crime victims throughout Maryland. MCVRC is the longest running and largest legal clinic serving victims of all crimes in this country. MCVRC attorneys have argued in State, Federal and the Supreme Court on victim rights issues which have resulted in major legal victories.
Contact: Casey Rosil
Communications and Media Specialist
240-335-4031