Bandoni v. State

This is a dark day for state constitutional law and judicial independence in Rhode Island. For crime victims in particular, this day will doubtless live in legal infamy.

I take strong exception to the majority’s opinion, but not because it protests too much, persuades too little, and perturbs throughout, nor because of its hamfisted swipes at the dissent’s so-called “subjective considerations.” Rather, what vexes me is the majority’s remarkable refusal to enforce the plain language of the victims’ rights amendment to our State Constitution.

Although the grounds for my dissent are explained…