1984-01 RESOLUTION NO. 84-01
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAND TERRACE, CALIFORNIA, ENDORSING THE COURT
REFORM INITIATIVE.
WHEREAS, the administration of criminal justice has become _
increasingly cumbersome in California under the weight of unnecessary detays !:
and prohibitive costs caused by court inefficiency; and
WHEREAS, the California court system is hampered by the search for
technical imperfections in criminal cases which permit guilty criminals--to
obtain reversals of convictions to commit new crimes and create new- victims
and
WHEREAS, the Federal judicial system already employs a jury selection
process which streamlines the search for a fair and impartial jury without
permitting the unlimited questioning of jurors permitted by California courts;
and
WHEREAS, reforms in the preliminary hearing process, grand jury
indictments, and less-than-unanimous verdicts will save both time and taxpayer
costs while protecting the fairness and equality of criminal justice; and
WHEREAS, technical delays in the trial process escalate the cost of
court cases and reinforce the principle that justice delayed is justice
denied; and
WHEREAS, denial of parole or probation can be an effective deterrent
to further criminal activity if denial is made promptly; and
WHEREAS, the criminal court initiative would permit judges to revoke
probation, allow the Board of Prison Terms to order paroles revoked, adopt the
Federal jury selection process, permit less-than-unanimous jury verdicts in
most cases, make continuances difficult to obtain, reduce the number of
technical defense motions during preliminary hearings, and curtail
time-consuming private questioning of jurors in death penalty cases; and
WHEREAS, the initiative does not impair the civil rights of any
defendant;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of
Grand Terrace endorses the goals of the Court Reform Initiative.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that said City Council urges Grand Terrace
residents to read the criminal court initiative and become better informed
about its goals and positive effects.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Clerk is directed to circulate
appropriate copies of this Resolution to other California cities requesting
additional endorsements.
ADOPTED this 26th day of January, 1984.
ATTEST:
City�E of the C ty of Gr d Mayor of h C i t of T rr ice
:Terra - and of the City Coun i 1 and of the C-ty Ca�nci 1 thereof.
-there-®f:
Approved as to form:
+1Aorney
- 2 -
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO ) ss.
CITY OF GRAND TERRACE )
I, MYRNA ERWAY, City Clerk of the City of Grand Terrace, DO HEREBY
CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the City Council of
said City at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 26th day of
January, 1984, and that it was so adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Rigley, Petta, and Mayor Grant.
NOES: Councilmembers Nix and Pfennighausen,
ABSENT: None.
City C194 of the City of Gra
#J T.errace -
and of a City Council thereofA
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO ) ss.
CITY OF GRAND TERRACE )
I, MYRNA ERWAY, City Clerk of the City of Grand Terrace, DO HEREBY
CERTIFY that the above and foregoing is a full , true, and correct copy of
Resolution No. 84-01 of said City, and that the same has not been amended or
repealed.
DATED: January 26, 1984.
-
City Cl k of the City of Gr 'Terrace
and of he City Council thereof.,