April 14, 2010

NCVLI to File Amicus Curiae Brief to Protect Victims’ Rights Pretrial

In State v. Mankin, a Washington trial court ordered witnesses in a criminal case to undergo a pretrial deposition because they declined to allow a pretrial interview to be recorded. 

In State v. Mankin, a Washington trial court ordered witnesses in a criminal case to undergo a pretrial deposition because they declined to allow a pretrial interview to be recorded.  Because the rule at issue in the case does not differentiate between non-victim-witnesses and victim-witnesses, if the ruling stands, crime victims throughout Washington would either have to consent to recorded interviews, or be subject to deposition.  The impact on crime victims will be tremendous!  NCVLI will file an amicus curiae brief in support of the state’s appeal in April.