I just got called for Jury duty for the first time (want info on Jury Nullification) - VANITY

[The FRugitive]

I just got called for jury duty for the first time.

I'm curious about jury nullification in case I get picked and get a consensual "criminal" case (tax evasion, drug posession, gun law violation, etc.). What would I need to know?

This could be my chance to stick it to the man. ;)

(Of course if I were to get a case of force or fraud I would follow the standing law.)

[capitan_refugio]

In regard to the O.J. verdict, people forget what some of the jurors said in post-trial interviews:

The first jury instruction from Judge Ito pertained to the "crime scene timeline." Several jurors stated that the Prosecution did not prove to them beyond a reasonable doubt, that O.J. had time to commit the crime. They interpreted the instruction, decided the fact, and applied the law.

You or I may not agree with their decision, but it was not a case of jury nullification.

[MEGoody]

"Your duty as a juror is to judge both the facts and the law."

Not according to the laws in my state, and what little research I did on the laws of other states didn't turn up any support for such a claim either (no matter what FIJA says). Neither judges NOR jurors are legislators.

[Roscoe]

Neither judges NOR jurors are legislators.

Great quote!

[Protagoras]

"The jury has the right to judge both the law as well as the fact in controversy."
John Jay, 1st Chief Justice
U.S. Supreme Court, 1789

"The jury has the right to determine both the law and the facts."
Samuel Chase, U.S. Supreme Court Justice,
1796, Signer of the unanimous Declaration

"The law itself is on trial quite as much as the cause which is to be decided."
Harlan F. Stone, 12th Chief Justice,
U.S. Supreme Court, 1941

[Protagoras]

"The jury has the right to judge both the law as well as the fact in controversy."
John Jay, 1st Chief Justice
U.S. Supreme Court, 1789

"The jury has the right to determine both the law and the facts."
Samuel Chase, U.S. Supreme Court Justice,
1796, Signer of the unanimous Declaration

"The law itself is on trial quite as much as the cause which is to be decided."
Harlan F. Stone, 12th Chief Justice,
U.S. Supreme Court, 1941

[Roscoe]

Different states, different laws. A point which I haven't ever seen jury nullification advocates address.

[miss marmelstein]

You're asking the wrong questions. What you should be asking is: is there air conditioning/heating in the main jury room or courtroom? Is there a workable bathroom? Are there enough seats for the 3,000 people called on the first day of jury duty? Once you get stuck on a jury, can you be assured that the foreman speaks English and believes in the 5th amendment? Will the judge threaten you with contempt if you giggle at a funny made by the defense counsel? And my favorite: if you deliberate on a Friday, will the judge sequester you around 12 o'clock in the afternoon (so he can get in a round of golf) while you and your fellow jurors spend the weekend at a Holiday Inn and are forced to eat dinner at the Pig 'N Whistle. All of this has happened to me over the last twenty five years - jury nullification never came up.

[Protagoras]

Sorry to bust your bubble Bosco. All of it is irrelevant in the final analysis.

One of the last places where people can overcome your desired tyranny is in the jury box. Despite all your laws and all your wishes, people will vote to find defendants not guilty when thier concience leads them to. And they don't have to give any reason for their vote.

And that fact drives you control freaks wild. It's one of lifes little pleasures. :^}

[The FRugitive]

It's called a joke you humorless little...

[savedbygrace]

Roscoe, it's one of those powers reserved to the people that Amendment X speaks of. Do you live in a state in which state law supercedes such powers?

When you boil it down, it could also be considered to be one of the Rights endowed by our Creator.

[Protagoras]

When you boil it down, it could also be considered to be one of the Rights endowed by our Creator.

He's not big on the whole creator thing. He thinks that laws define right and wrong.

He must like slavery, Jim Crow, genocide and Abortion on demand.

[Roscoe]

All of it is irrelevant in the final analysis.

Oh?

South Dakota rejects jury nullification

Cry me a river.

[Roscoe]

Roscoe, it's one of those powers reserved to the people that Amendment X speaks of.

Cite, please.

[KneelBeforeZod]

I had to interpret the law on a jury I was on, Murder 1, murder 2 or manslaughter.

[Boot Hill]

harpseal says:   "The jury is the final judge of both law and facts."

The proof of this truth is that we even have a jury system in the first place.

The jury system would be totally unnecessary if the founding fathers had not intended there to one last "fire break" between the people and unjust prosecutions or unconstitutional laws. If this had not been the intent of the jury system, the Sixth Amendment would simply have required a trial before a panel of judges or governors.

--Boot Hill

[KneelBeforeZod]

You need to wear your "JANET RENO: BUTCHER OF WACO" shirt and when they ask you any questions, say "I do not recognize the authority of this court"

[Roscoe]

He must like slavery

13th Amendment.

Jim Crow

Civil rights laws.

genocide

Non sequitur.

and Abortion on demand.

Backwards. State abortion laws were nullified by the judiciary.

Your aim needs work.

[DAnconia55]

Not so sure that lying to prevent them from knowing your views would be morally wrong. Legally, yes. Morally?

The whole jury selection bit is immoral. It's an attempt to deprive the accused of a jury of their peers. It's an attempt by lawyers to sway the jury - so that both sides will remove all intelligent jurors.

Unlike some of the people here who don't get it, I would want you on my jury, and I would want you to lie to get there!

[savedbygrace]

Cite? You mean the words of the Constitution are only valid if a court case says they are? That's silly.

I cite the Constitution of the United States of America, which trumps your cites.

[DAnconia55]

LOL #48.... Most excellent.