this post was submitted on 23 Jan 2024
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751
Food Not Bombs trial rescheduled after too many jurors objected to $500 fine for feeding homeless (www.houstonchronicle.com)
submitted 9 months ago by stopthatgirl7@kbin.social to c/news@lemmy.world
157 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Too many of the potential jurors said that even if the defendant, Elisa Meadows, was guilty, they were unwilling to issue the $500 fine a city attorney was seeking, said Ren Rideauxx, Meadows' attorney.

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[–] stoly@lemmy.world 8 points 9 months ago (1 children)

LOL amazingly a jury can decide how they want and that's the end of it. the fact that someone may not like it is immaterial.

[–] frezik@midwest.social 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

Uhh, no. That's not how it works.:

According to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sparf v. U.S., written by Justice Harlan, juries have no right to ignore the law when rendering the jury's verdict. However, nullification still occurs in some instances because of the secrecy of jury deliberations. It is difficult to determine if a jury negates the law, especially in close cases.

If it was up to judges, it would never be allowed, and cases would go to appeal or retrial if it happens. It only continues because jury deliberations are private. If judges found out, they would toss it.

[–] stoly@lemmy.world 11 points 9 months ago (1 children)

You've just proven that the SCOTUS decision is fully unenforceable, which means that jury nullification is the de facto law of the land.

[–] frezik@midwest.social 0 points 9 months ago (3 children)

It's not. People blab about it a lot. Often right during jury selection, which makes it easy.

[–] Zink@programming.dev 3 points 9 months ago

That makes it easy to prevent, I think, but not necessarily enforce/punish

[–] stoly@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

That's the one time they will get you. The other is like in the Darryl Brooks trial where he tried to bring it up repeatedly and was shut down instantly by the judge.

[–] frezik@midwest.social -2 points 9 months ago

People blab all the time when they think they're on to something smart. It's surprisingly reliable.

[–] afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago

Very well. Please show the part of the federal criminal code that allows a juror to be prosecuted for thought crime. I will wait.

[–] Maggoty@lemmy.world 7 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, is this the same SCOTUS that says women have to die if their pregnancy fucks up?

We should probably stop letting judges make laws. They don't run this place, we do.

[–] frezik@midwest.social -1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It's been precedent for a long time. Also, if you want to confront the legitimately of the court system altogether, then jury nullification is meaningless.

[–] Maggoty@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago

It's been a dead letter just as long.