Well, yes, but it's Admiralty Law, not the common law. That's what the gold fringe on the flags in the court room really mean. I'm not a big fan of waiving my rights, nor should you be.
So is the "gold fringe on the flag" thing.
It's fringe in more ways than one.
Some loon who decided to represent himself filed a pro se brief which made all those arguments about the "admiralty law versus common law" and even the gold fringe on the flag.
He was unable to cite a single case, statute, or actual historical authority for this theory.
But WE had to research the stupid argument in order to deal with it.
He was laughed out of court, but it cost my client a bunch of legal fees and the court and the lawyers a bunch of lost time that they could well have spent dealing with people's actual problems.
Stick to the prerogative of the jury to acquit on character or factual grounds. Because of the requirement of intent, there's always wiggle room. Don't get involved in all these elaborate conspiracy theories.
More importantly, if you should ever actually say that stuff in court, a cranky judge may find a reason to find you in contempt. Which is no fun.
Now, Now, Carrie,
You know the Marsupial Magistrate is there on that bench to uphold God and Truth and Right.
You do, don’t you?
;-)