Bill would reimburse defendants who shoot under self-defense

[SVPete]

Bill would reimburse defendants who shoot under self-defense

https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/northwest/idaho/article258657833.html

A panel of lawmakers introduced legislation that would strengthen Idaho's “stand your ground” law by requiring counties to reimburse anyone charged in a slaying if a judge or jury concludes they acted in self-defense. Sen. Christy Zito, a Republican from Hammett, said the proposal is needed to protect people like Kyle Rittenhouse, who used an assault-style rifle to shoot three people during a street protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 2020. Rittenhouse killed Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, but he said he acted in self-defense. A jury last year acquitted him of multiple charges including homicide.
...
If enacted, the legislation would require the county or prosecuting state agency where the person was charged with a crime to reimburse the defendant for “all reasonable costs” if they are found not guilty by reason of self defense. Reasonable costs would include lost wages, the costs of any lost business opportunities and legal costs including bail, expert witness fees, attorney's bills and other expenses. The bill also includes a “safety net” to protect defendants if they are sued by victim in a self-defense case, she said.

All that to me seems missing is a clause making prosecutors liable for misconduct as egregious as what Rittenhouse's prosecutors committed. It's sad that law-abiding citizens need to be protected from government lawfare, but ...

[Eupher]

Bill would reimburse defendants who shoot under self-defense

https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/northwest/idaho/article258657833.html

All that to me seems missing is a clause making prosecutors liable for misconduct as egregious as what Rittenhouse's prosecutors committed. It's sad that law-abiding citizens need to be protected from government lawfare, but ...

I'll second that by stating that not only should the prosecutors be held liable, but their district attorney bosses as well. They should be held accountable for prosecutorial misconduct, and civil liabilities.

The end result should be that self-defense cases, if prosecuted for murder, will be examined in micro-detail based on the facts, not political bias.