“Some pretty big bullies.”

I had used words like meritless, frivolous and intimidating.

Both the witness and I were testifying on behalf of my SLAPP bill.

A SLAPP is a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation.

Such lawsuits are often brought by a business against a private citizen, who spoke out against a development proposal in his or her neighborhood.

An exercise of First Amendment rights.

To get the bill passed, we will need to make sure that our proposed changes to the existing SLAPP law are precise and achieve our policy objectives.

In the hallway after our hearing, I discussed potential amendments with the bill’s supporters – lawyers and otherwise.

But when the Judiciary Committee votes on my bill, , I think the delegates will remember that my bill is needed because we’re dealing with “some pretty big bullies.”