Posted on 01/22/2011 4:29:38 PM PST by don-o
Purpose
The FIJA mission is to educate Americans regarding their full powers as jurors, including their ability to rely on personal conscience, to judge the merit of the law and its application, and to nullify bad law, when necessary for justice, by finding for the defendant.
The Fully Informed Jury Association(FIJA)is a nonpartisan public policy research and education organization located in Helena, Montana. FIJA focuses on issues involving the role of the jury in our justice system and the preservation of the full function of the jury as the final arbiter in our courts of law. The FIJA mission is to inform all Americans about their rights, powers and responsibilities when serving as trial jurors. FIJA works to restore the political function of the jury as the final check and balance on our American system of government.
To assist supporters who press for a “fully informed jury,” FIJA has drafted the following model bill language suitable for passage into law or for amending a state constitution:
“An accused or aggrieved party’s right to trial by jury, in all instances where the government or any of its agencies is an opposing party, includes the right to inform the jurors of their power to judge the law as well as the evidence, and to vote on the verdict according to conscience.
This right shall not be infringed by any statute, juror oath, court order, or procedure or practice of the court, including the use of any method of jury selection which could preclude or limit the empanelment of jurors willing to exercise this power.
Nor shall this right be infringed by preventing any party to the trial, once the jurors have been informed of their powers, from presenting arguments to the jury which may pertain to issues of law and conscience, including (1) the merit, intent, constitutionality or applicability of the law in the instant case; (2) the motives, moral perspective, or circumstances of the accused or aggrieved party; (3) the degree and direction of guilt or actual harm done, or (4) the sanctions which may be applied to the losing party.
Failure to allow the accused or aggrieved party or counsel for that party to so inform the jury shall be grounds for mistrial and another trial by jury.
When every American juror is aware of and permitted to exercise all of his and her rights, the final judgment of law will return to where it was always intended to be located…in the hands of the people. Once again our jury system will function as our country’s founders intended it to function as people’s final check against the government’s tendency to encroach upon the rights of its people.
N.B. FIJA conducts its campaign solely through educational outreach programs and materials, and works to achieve its goals through means appropriate to its 501(c)(3) status. It does not advocate violence or willful disobedience to the law, and does not associate itself with any anti-government movement or organization.
To maintain its independence, FIJA accepts no government funding. FIJA programs and publications are possible because of generous contributions received from individual donors, foundations and corporations. FIJA generates revenue through seminar fees and the sale of FIJA publications and materials. FIJA is a public policy nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation under Section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
ping
Bump
When juries are deemed to have the power to decide based on their own opinions or eccentricities which laws count and which don't, then we no longer have any semblance of the rule of law.
Is it coincidence that I received a summons for jury duty today? hmmm
Last I heard, there is VERY STRONG push back from judges and prosecutors against the FIJA. Especially from activist judges.
I strongly support this movement. But is seems that they are being overwhelmed by an out of control judiciary.
If a jury spanked the TSA, it would indeed be wonderful thing of beauty.
My fear is that too many sheeple are either too ignorant or afraid to make that statement.
I would love to be wrong.
You are so completely dead wrong on this it isn't even funny.
L
Really?
I got mine a couple weeks ago.
Juries have had this power from the beginning. Judges and prosecutors are the one’s that have stolen our powers. If you knew that the 16th amendment did not pass would you be sending your fellow citizens off to the slammer? By the way, it did not pass.
When judges are deemed to have the power to decide based on their own opinions or eccentricities which laws count and which don’t, then we no longer have any semblance of the trial by jury.
Although jury nullification sometimes does happen. OJ Simpson.
This is a very valid point. But what is the recourse for an out of control judiciary? At what point do you say to an activist judge, intent on bending the Constitution like a pretzel, "this far, and no farther?" Let's say, judges who think we need to look to the laws of Other Countries for our direction?
Your statement is true, but only for one side of the coin. The fact is that the other side of the coin needs, sometimes, to be held in check too. Left without constraints, we fall into lawlessness just as fast.
I can maybe see where you are coming from - ref the O J trial.
However, consider http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2661500/posts for the positive potential.
“When juries are deemed to have the power to decide based on their own opinions or eccentricities which laws count and which don’t, then we no longer have any semblance of the rule of law.”
Have you read your own post? Are you crazy? Juries having that power is what it’s all about. A jury of your peers...
Why else have juries if an algorithm would do?
Juries are so retro, so archaic. I’m on a grand jury now, where the DA brings the most pedestrian and solid of cases, for reasons only he knows, it’s, how the system works. But some of the fellow jurors are so damn serious about it, ready to secondguess all the expert witnesses, so clever by half, it is embarassing and shameful, besides being timewasting.
You shouldn’t be on any jury if you feel that way.
Why don’t members of the FIJA picket in front of courthouses, handing out information about specific cases, and informing potential jurors? Heck, you could even advertise that if you believe in the tenets of a fully informed jury, you are likely to be rejected from jury duty? Word would spread, and people would become educated. Before long, those so educated would WANT to serve on juries, and throw a complete wrench in the judicial works.....which would be GOOD.
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