Jury acquits in marijuana case.

[Courtesy Flush]

http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/24518.html

An interesting article about a guy who convinced a jury to acquit a man for marijuana possession. The jury had been instructed to judge the facts only, and told that they were not allowed to judge the law. It goes on to explain that juries ARE allowed to judge the law, and that's how laws get changed.

MAJOR DISCLAIMER!!! This seems to be a work of fiction, but it may also have an element of truth about jury rights, and the way judges deny jurors their rights. Also, the article is on a conservative website. Don't ask me how it got there. I found it on digg.

:wtf:

Can any law buffs here tell us if judges really do deny these kinds of jury rights? I know they instruct juries what they have to base their decisions on, but can they lie about it? Seems like an acquittal has to stick, once it's handed down by the jury.

Apologies if this has been posted already. I don't visit this forum often.

[mainegreen]

1. Jury nullification is legal, but usually can't be mentioned.

That's why it's good to know your rights as a juror should you be called to serve.

[Mind_your_head]

2. Can you explain more please

Coincidentally I am to report for jury duty tomorrow (I guess that's why this thread caught my eye). I've never been called for jury duty before and am a bit apprehensive about what to expect. I also think it's weird to report on a Wednesday, but people I talked with said that that wasn't so odd.

[mainegreen]

4. Basically juries can aquit, and juries do not need to explain why. Its a de facto power.

The constitution states quite clearly that juries decide trials. It does not state how they do that, so constitutionally juries get to decide that for themselves. It's on of the greatest powers the people have, and the system does not want you to know about it.

Here's the wiki article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification

Note how it applies to modern America.

[Mind_your_head]

5. Thank you for the info/link

I was just looking it up for myself. Very interesting - I didn't know this before. Thanks again.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

6. If it's an unjust law being applied, keep your mouth SHUT about this! Act dumb!

Or they'll press the "eject" button on your seat! They DON'T want informed jururs!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

3. Sadly, it looks too much like fiction. The characters talk in big paragraphs. But then again

similar things may have happened elsewhere, because the facts on the law are exactly those. Jury nullification is real.

[Courtesy Flush]

7. As I said. It's most likely fiction

But that's not the point. The point is that we don't have to believe what we're being spoon fed.