SF Gate, "Bill to give juvenile lifers a second chance fails"

The California Assembly defeated SB9, a bill that would have given juvenile offenders serving life sentences without parole the opportunity for release. It was the second time in two years that the legislature rejected the bill. Supporters will likely bring it up again before the legislative session ends Sept. 9. Critics charged the bill violated victims’ rights of judicial finality guaranteed under Marsy’s Law. - HTN Foundation

Bill to give juvenile lifers a second chance fails

Marisa Lagos, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, August 26, 2011

(08-25) 14:39 PDT Sacramento --

For the second time in as many years, the state Assembly defeated a bill today that would have offered some juvenile offenders sentenced to life in prison the opportunity for release - a measure that was adamantly opposed by Republicans and victims' rights groups.

The bill's failure followed more than an hour of contentious debate and several rounds of voting in the lower house, and came despite intense lobbying by Democrats backing the measure, including Speaker John Pérez, D-Los Angeles. At one point after coming within one vote of passing, several Democrats pulled back their support, and SB9 ultimately failed by five votes, 36-36.

A spokesman for Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, who authored the bill, said supporters will likely bring the measure up for reconsideration before the Legislature's session ends Sept. 9.