S. 3524 · 114th Congress

A bill to amend Rule 611 of the Federal Rules of Evidence to prohibit cross-examination by the accused of minor victims of sexual assault.

Stage
In committee
Sponsor
Jeff Flake
Introduced
2016-12-08
Latest action
2016-12-08 · Introduced in Senate

Summary

This bill amends the Federal Rules of Evidence to establish a procedure to prohibit pro se criminal defendants (defendants representing themselves without a lawyer) accused of sexual assault of a minor under age 18 from cross-examining the minor.

Upon application by the prosecutor, the minor, or the minor's representative, the defendant is prohibited from conducting such a cross-examination unless the court finds that it is necessitated by exceptional circumstances to protect the defendant's constitutional rights. The cross-examination of the minor shall instead be conducted by an attorney for the defendant under the court's supervision.