Oregon Measure 70, Public Demand for Jury Trial Amendment (1999)

Oregon Measure 70
Election date November 2, 1999
Topic Civil and criminal trials
Status Defeated
Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment	Origin State legislature

Oregon Measure 70 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Oregon on November 2, 1999. It was defeated.

A "yes" vote supported providing the public with the right to demand a jury trial in criminal cases.

A "no" vote opposed providing the public with the right to demand a jury trial in criminal cases.

Election results

Oregon Measure 70
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		289,783	41.56%
No		407,429	58.44%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Measure 70 was as follows:

“

AMENDS CONSTITUTION: GIVES PUBLIC, THROUGH PROSECUTOR, RIGHT TO DEMAND JURY TRIAL IN CRIMINAL CASES. RESULT OF "YES” VOTE: “Yes” vote gives public, through prosecutor, right to demand jury trial in criminal cases. RESULT OF “NO" VOTE: “No” vote retains current right of accused person to waive jury with approval of judge and leaves public without right to demand jury trial in criminal cases.  SUMMARY: Amends Constitution. Oregon Constitution currently grants only accused person right to demand jury trial in criminal prosecution. Measure grants public, through prosecutor, an independent constitutional right to demand jury trial in criminal cases. Currently accused person can waive jury trial with consent of trial court judge and have case tried to court alone. If measure is approved, prosecutor could demand jury trial if accused person requests trial without jury: prosecutor's demand would prevail Does not require jury in juvenile court. ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: No financial effect on state or local government expenditures or revenues.

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Path to the ballot

See also: Amending the Oregon Constitution

A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the Oregon State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 31 votes in the Oregon House of Representatives and 16 votes in the Oregon State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

See also

1999 Measures

• 1999 Measures
• Civil and criminal trials on the ballot
• 1999 legislative sessions

Oregon

• Oregon ballot measures
• Oregon ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• Oregon Voter Guide (1999)