Dec. 1, 2004 – The Senate will re-convene to challenge several bills vetoed by Gov. Charles Turnbull last month, Senate President David Jones said Wednesday.
Sen. Lorraine Berry said she has asked the outgoing Jones to convene the legislature in order to override five of Turnbull's vetoes.
The out-of-session Senate will meet Dec. 15, said Jones, who is out of the territory on vacation.
Jones also said he had not reviewed Turnbull's vetoes.
Vetoes to be challenged are of bills creating a civilian board to review allegations of police misconduct, made animal cruelty a felony, and channeled criminal fine money to vandalized schools, among others.
Turnbull said he agreed with many of the bills, but found fault within each.
A bill creating a civilian board to review allegations of police misconduct is a good idea, Turnbull said, but technically unsound.
"The Law Enforcement Review Commission should not have quasi-judicial powers, which infringe upon the powers of the Territorial Court and Department of Justice," Turnbull said in a press release.
The police Internal Affairs department currently investigates reports of officer misconduct.
The U.S. Department of Justice has been investigating the police force since January for possible civil rights violations.
Turnbull also vetoed a bill making animal cruelty a felony, saying it was "overreaching" and ambiguous in defining "cruelty."
The bill specifically addressed illegal dog fighting as cruelty, but ignored cockfighting, a legal sport.
He also called the bill "draconian."
Turnbull said the bill barred convicted animal abusers from ever owning a pet again and allowed people to trespass on private property to help an animal.
Berry's inter-party petition to re-convene the senate was signed by Sens. Norman Jn Baptiste, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, Carlton Dowe, Shawn-Michael Malone, Luther Renee, Usie Richards and Celestino White.
The 15-member Senate needs 10 votes to override a veto.
Berry said Wednesday afternoon she is certain they will get the 10 votes needed to override all the vetoed bills.

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