Jurors' Handbook- (stuff freepers should know)

Fully Informed Jury Association ^ | 12-11-01 | FIJA

[Demidog]

I agree with that. Better IMO.

[floriduh voter]

Barbie was so surprised with her gift today and she and all her party guests are admiring them. I will send pictures by snail mail of Barbie's surprise, my pets and my Christmas settings.

Other stuff freepers should know: "you are a nice freeper." Thanks.

[woollyone]

Like I said before, I hope Ken isn't mad. ;-)

[Virginia-American]

. I guess there may be some emotional satisfaction in playing Chief Justice but it does not mean anything in the end.

The defendant might disagree

[Virginia-American]

The juror or grand juror is the last check in the judicial branch and the ultimate litmus for the applicability of law.

AKA the 'consent of the governed'. Remember that ALL TWELVE have to agree to acquit.

[Virginia-American]

Jury Nullification is ONLY concerned with the constitutional basis for the law , based on the jury’s subjective definition. IOW, it makes NO difference if the trial evidence proves the defendant broke the law, the law should not have been in place from the get go.

Not exactly, there are reasons besides unconstitutionality why a statute should not be applied, even in cases where the defendant is guilty under the statute and the evidence, and the statute is Constitutional. EG: an antiabortion group is charged under RICO. Jim Robinson is charged with theft of copyrighted material. A cancer patient is charged with 'possession with intent to distribute'. And so on. IMO one of the jury's main functions is to bring a little common sense into the courtroom.

BAstiat wrote a good essay on the subject of juries. He thought that one way to get laws with general support is to give several different people and organizations, chosen independently and in diffferent ways, veto power over proposed laws: the House, the Senate, the Executive, the prosecutor, the grand jury, the judge and the trial jury.

[woollyone]

Yes, for an aquittal, you are correct.

[VA Advogado]

This is silly. You're only one of 12 votes. The most you can do is hang the jury. Now this really helps the prosecutor because he can go back and interview the 11 sane jurors and find out what he needs to do to insure victory when they retry the schmuck.

[woollyone]

Your assumption is made without factoring in the power of persuasion and the cost of retrials.

[VA Advogado]

Your assumption is made without factoring in the power of persuasion and the cost of retrials.

Unless you're in the backwater of some militia stronghold, having on of these kooks on the jury is sure to make it 11-1 against the defendant.

[woollyone]

If you enjoyed a Jack-n-coke this week, or are black and aren't a slave this week, you can thank some of these "kooks" (as you call them) for your freedom to imbibe...or for your freedom in general. One day, it may be one of those "kooks" that saves you from tyranny and protects your Constitutionally enumerated and God-given rights, when you are unjustly charged with a crime, that should have been no crime in the first place.

[VA Advogado]

Sure. Just like these nuts here tried to save us from the IRS.

Federal jury convicts 12 in tax-protest case

God help us if you were on this jury. I could only imagine whose side you would be on.

[Poohbah]

Now, thereyougoagain, posting PROOF that the IRS harrasses only the law-abiding and upstanding patriots :o)

[VA Advogado]

Now, thereyougoagain, posting PROOF that the IRS harrasses only the law-abiding and upstanding patriots :o)

I'm sure that's how the keyboard constitutionalist will see it. :)

What would we do without them fighting for our right to be. . . lawless?

[Clintons Are White Trash]

I got a notice for jury duty - have to go tomorrow for orientation. I served on a jury about 6 years ago - extremely stressful! We had a drug case - undercover bust - for some guy selling his homemade meth. I was suprised they managed to get some old hippies on the jury that were hesitant to convict. After 6 hours we finally got a guilty verdict and came to the sentencing phase - maximum recommended was 12 years. My consensus is that there is no difference between a good drug dealer and a bad drug dealer and was ready to give him 12 years. The old hippies came to the rescue again but I did manage to get him 9 years.

[woollyone]

So...so what? You bring up a case of fraud to prove no point whatsoever?

[woollyone]

tells us how it goes tomorrow

[Capt. Tom]

Personally, I wouldn't lie to get on a jury. Nor would I volunteer information that would exclude me.

After all the talks and watching the jury film I have been asked by the lawyers if I had any problems with the system.

I answer yes; and it is the presumption of the defendant being innocent until proven guilty. I say a juror should not have any bias in a case and assuming innocence until proven guilty is a clear bias in favor of the defendant.

You should not assume the defendant is innocent or that he/she is guilty. You should base your judgement on the evidence presented.

Having said that; I have served on 3 jurys and never been rejected for that statement.-Tom

[SUSSA]

I answer all their questions honestly, but I never volunteer any information. I too have served on three juries. I never saw any reason to give out more information than they asked for. Everyone has to do what he thinks is right.

[NC_Libertarian]

FMI