[Newspoetry] Re: spreading a meme

[Ryan M. Hastings]

I find it worth mentioning that this strategy has been successful in some
places.  I can't remember where, but a few years ago I remember hearing
that in a few places cops even stopped arresting for marijuana because
they knew it was useless.  I think it was in the Northwest or California
or somewhere like that.  Probably one of the counties where the stuff is
legal or decriminalized now.

n Tue, Feb 06, 2001 at 05:02:52PM -0600, Eric S Parent wrote:
> I have an idea too.
> 
> Kind of unrelated.
> 
> Jury Nullification--the right of the jury to vote 'not guilty' even when
> they think the person on trial is guilty, if they don't think the punishment
> is appropriate.  This is especially cool in cases where the jury has to be
> unanimous to convict:  in such cases it just takes one juror to castrate the
> court's ability to convict a person.
> 
> What this means is that The People have the power to make unjust laws
> impossible to enforce, if enough people are willing to Nullify.  For
> instance, a person on trial for using medical marijuana would be impossible
> to prosecute if there were no juries willing to convict him.
> 
> Unfortunately, prosecuting lawyers generally ask prospective jurors if they
> believe in Nullification and select only ones who don't.  Or else judges
> convince juries (wrongly) that Nullification is illegal and unethical.
> Nullification is actually an important part of the judicial process--it is
> the way that The People can stop the enforcement of unjust laws.
> 
> The solution?  Try to make sure as many people as possible know the truth
> about Nullification.  Make it impossible for the court to find a jury they
> can manipulate into supporting unjust laws.  Pass out fliers in front of
> courthouses with information on Nullification.
> 
> And when they ask you if you believe in Nullification, say 'No.'  It may be
> unethical to lie under oath, but it's more unethical to prune the jury of
> its right to Nullify by selecting for ignorance and complicity.
> 
> --Dr. Pipe