[seahorse]

There is a very powerful tool citizens have over their government, and its called jury nullification. Juries have the inherent right to ignore the law in criminal trials. Again, this is called jury nullification. Here's a real example: years ago, a man's son was raped by a karate instructor. The instructor fled the state, was caught, and extradited back. On his way back through the airport, the boy's father shot and killed the instructor and immediately surrendered to police. This was all caught on tape. The father was charged with pre-meditated murder, but the jury found him not guilty. This is jury nullification. Even though it was clearly murder, the jury didn't convict and cannot be required to convict.

In many states, including my state, the judge and the lawyers are not allowed to inform juries of this inherent right of nullification, but they have it. Taxpayers/citizens need to understand this right and inform others on it. If you ever sit on a jury where someone is being charged by the Feds for cheating on their taxes, weapons violations, any other b.s., remember, you have the inherent right not to convict, even though you may not be told of this right. Further, as an individual, you can force a hung jury, even if no one else will go along. I'm talking about criminal trials here.

This is one way people can fight back. However, notice how under all these new laws, like the Military Commissions Act, the Fed Gov't tries to do away with the right of a jury at all. Under that act, if you are deemed an "enemy combatant" then the gov't takes the position that you have no rights under the bill of rights.

Here's a good overview of jury nullification in wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification

[gollum]

AWSOME POST, Jusy nullification is a very important check on government tyranny.

[Byron100]

I got to serve on a jury once. We didn't do the "nullification" thing, but we acquitted the guy on trial (accused of stealing from his employer). Have no idea if he really did it or not, but the prosecution sure didn't have much of a case...LOL.

Deliberation took about ten minutes for the 12 of us on the jury...not much disagreement to be sure.

[vision-master]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('seahorse', 'T')here is a very powerful tool citizens have over their government, and its called jury nullification. Juries have the inherent right to ignore the law in criminal trials. Again, this is called jury nullification. Here's a real example: years ago, a man's son was raped by a karate instructor. The instructor fled the state, was caught, and extradited back. On his way back through the airport, the boy's father shot and killed the instructor and immediately surrendered to police. This was all caught on tape. The father was charged with pre-meditated murder, but the jury found him not guilty. This is jury nullification. Even though it was clearly murder, the jury didn't convict and cannot be required to convict.

In many states, including my state, the judge and the lawyers are not allowed to inform juries of this inherent right of nullification, but they have it. Taxpayers/citizens need to understand this right and inform others on it. If you ever sit on a jury where someone is being charged by the Feds for cheating on their taxes, weapons violations, any other b.s., remember, you have the inherent right not to convict, even though you may not be told of this right. Further, as an individual, you can force a hung jury, even if no one else will go along. I'm talking about criminal trials here.

This is one way people can fight back. However, notice how under all these new laws, like the Military Commissions Act, the Fed Gov't tries to do away with the right of a jury at all. Under that act, if you are deemed an "enemy combatant" then the gov't takes the position that you have no rights under the bill of rights.

Here's a good overview of jury nullification in wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification

[alpha480v]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vision-master', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('seahorse', 'T')here is a very powerful tool citizens have over their government, and its called jury nullification. Juries have the inherent right to ignore the law in criminal trials. Again, this is called jury nullification. Here's a real example: years ago, a man's son was raped by a karate instructor. The instructor fled the state, was caught, and extradited back. On his way back through the airport, the boy's father shot and killed the instructor and immediately surrendered to police. This was all caught on tape. The father was charged with pre-meditated murder, but the jury found him not guilty. This is jury nullification. Even though it was clearly murder, the jury didn't convict and cannot be required to convict.

In many states, including my state, the judge and the lawyers are not allowed to inform juries of this inherent right of nullification, but they have it. Taxpayers/citizens need to understand this right and inform others on it. If you ever sit on a jury where someone is being charged by the Feds for cheating on their taxes, weapons violations, any other b.s., remember, you have the inherent right not to convict, even though you may not be told of this right. Further, as an individual, you can force a hung jury, even if no one else will go along. I'm talking about criminal trials here.

This is one way people can fight back. However, notice how under all these new laws, like the Military Commissions Act, the Fed Gov't tries to do away with the right of a jury at all. Under that act, if you are deemed an "enemy combatant" then the gov't takes the position that you have no rights under the bill of rights.

Here's a good overview of jury nullification in wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification

[vision-master]

Thanx

12 Angry Men

[blukatzen]

That was a thought-provoking posting! We must be sure to keep it though, for the right people. The ones who deserve to be shut away, because they really *are* a criminal element, do no service to society being let go. In fact, it's more of a detriment.

Can you imagine this happening to Madoff, for instance? He'd be a walking dead man if they'd let him go. He'd have to go into hiding.

Blu

[MisterB]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vision-master', 'W')hat was the name of that old black an white movie where 'one' juror held out until the end? They all hated that guy.

[AlexdeLarge]

The other side of the coin............................

The Juice is innocent! Innocent I tell you!!!!!

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AlexdeLarge', '[')b]The other side of the coin............................

The Juice is innocent! Innocent I tell you!!!!!