(SB963)

GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6 of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto Senate Bill 963, which requires electronic delivery of materials, mandates earlier disclosure of police reports in district court, and clarifies ongoing discovery obligations under existing Supreme Court Rules.

The imposition of rigid timelines and procedural requirements would strain the limited resources of many law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, particularly in rural and high-volume jurisdictions.

Moreover, this legislation could potentially compromise the personal information of victims and witnesses. While the bill adds some protections for district court cases, no similar safeguards were included for circuit court proceedings. As a result, sensitive materials, including private details in cases involving child abuse or sexual assault, could be disclosed without proper redaction. We must never sacrifice the security and dignity of victims and witnesses for administrative efficiency. Earning victims' trust in the legal system requires that we prioritize their protection at every step.

Additionally, Virginia law imposes no statutory reciprocal discovery requirement on defense counsel. This bill creates an uneven playing field where prosecutors must comply with burdensome new standards, while defense attorneys may circumvent the balance established by Supreme Court Rule 3A:11.

Mandating strict production timelines without regard to complexity or staffing risks unintended consequences that could hinder the fair administration of justice.

Accordingly, I veto this bill.