GOP: DEMOCRATS PROMISE TO WORK ON PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

in order to avoid debating bill pulled by Republicans.

The House Republicans released the following statement:

House Republicans are pleased that during the interim, the House Judiciary Committee will be considering a constitutional amendment that would allow for felony prosecution via information in addition to the existing procedures of grand jury indictments and preliminary hearings. The amendment was the top priority of the Law Enforcement Coalition, which includes public prosecutors and police.

"We had considered pull the bill from committee, but Democrats assured us that the amendment will be worked on during the interim," said Rep Paul Whalen, House Republican Whip. "Democrat leadership also stated Republicans will be closely involved in shaping any revisions."

Republicans support this proposed constitutional amendment because it would add another tool, indictment by information, to the court system in order to expedite the prosecution of felonies. The measure passed the Senate unanimously but had been deferred by the House Judiciary Committee.

This constitutional amendment will allow prosecutors in every county to initiate felony prosecutions by submitting documentation or "written information."

"How it will work," said Whalen, "is that the prosecutor can submit written information to substitute for the costly, slow process of bringing live testimony before a grand jury in order to indict a suspect. Subsequent trials still will require live witnesses."

The Constitution of California was amended recently to allow for the indictment via information procedure. As in California, Hawaii's proposed legislation will guarantee the accused due process: an independent judicial determination of the reasonableness of the charge.

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