Children will be able to bring canine companions with them to court, starting in the new year. A law taking effect in 20-16 allows dogs to accompany kids, as well as developmentally disabled adults, during trials. The measure's sponsored by Senator Scott Bennett, a Champaign Democrat and former prosecutor.
"When you have cases where the children have to testify as victims in -- particularly on sensitive matters -- they can be embarrassed, they can be distracted. And one advantage to this is ... you get the little piece of mind by having the dog there, and they can actually get to sit on the stand and tell their story to the jury."
Several other states have similar laws.
