1. 1. 1 JURY NULLIFICATION Mimi Harvill CJA/344
2. 2. http://ppc.unl.edu/userfiles/file/Documents/projects/IndigencyScreenerProject/RacialEthnicBiasin theCourts.pdf Does ethnicity influence courtroom proceedings and judicial practices? Two dominant issues concerning race and the criminal justice system: Public perception that minorities receive harsher sentences than whites, for all types of punishment (Neely, 2009). Dissatisfaction with low-income legal services; reliance on public defender services; and dissatisfaction with the plea-bargaining system(Neely, 2009). 2
3. 3. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. Martin Luther King, Jr. 3 Does this represent ethnicity-based nullification? (National Geographic)
4. 4. 4 What is jury nullification? (Littau, 2013)
5. 5. Sen. Greg Brophy (R-Wray) response to HB 1224?, the bill that would limit magazines to 15 rounds: I will willfully and purposefully and civilly disobey this law (Littau, 2013). Sen. Brophy continues: There is one last line of defense, something each and everyone of us can do to stop these laws as individuals: jury nullification (Littau, 2013). Bottom line Sen. Brophy contests he would not be breaking a law but the law violated Sen. Brophys natural right to bear arms (Littau, 2013). 5 Just Say No to Bad, Immoral, and Unjust Laws by Saying Yes to Jury Duty Sen. Greg Brophy (Littau, 2013) (Colorado General Assembly)
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8. 8. Teens charged in beating that killed Mexican national in Shenandoah (Associated Press, 2009) 8 Murder victim Luis Ramirez and his fiance, Crystal Dillman, celebrate a family birthday with daughter Kiara, 2, and her half-sister Anjelina, 3. (Courtesy of Crystal Dillman) Brandon Piekarsky, 16 (Associated Press, 2009) Colin Walsh, 17 (Associated Press, 2009) Derrick Donchak, 18 (Associated Press, 2009)
9. 9. 9 Luis Ramirez lies in his hospital bed hours before his death at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa. (Associated Press, 2009) All three teens were acquitted of all serious charges, a decision that elicited cheers and claps from the defendants' families and friends (Associated Press, 2009).
10. 10. 10 Paul Butler Professor of Law B.A., Yale; J.D., Harvard Ethnicity-based jury nullification as vote against injustice.
11. 11. 11 Ethnicity-based jury nullification as danger to society. Keith Watters (Keith Watters & Associates)
12. 12. 12 Amendment VI In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence. (US Congress)
13. 13. 13 (King)
14. 14. 14 Associated Press. (2009, May 2). Teens Acquitted of Serious Charges in Beating Death of Mexican Immigrant. Retrieved from Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518686,00.html Colorado General Assembly. (n.d.). Senator Greg Brophy. Retrieved April 12, 2013, from Colorado Senate District 1: http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2013a/directory.nsf/MemberDetailPage?OpenForm&distri ct=01&chamber=senate Georgetown Law. (n.d.). Profile Paul Butler. Retrieved April 13, 2013, from GerogetownLaw: http://www.law.georgetown.edu/faculty/butler-paul.cfm Keith Watters & Associates. (n.d.). About Mr. Watters. Retrieved April 13, 2013, from Keith Watters & Associates: http://www.keithwattersandassociates.com/Law-Firm-About-Mr-Watters- Washington-DC.html King, M. L. (n.d.). Martin Luther King quotes photos. Retrieved April 16, 2013, from photobucket: http://media.photobucket.com/user/bipolaralilbit/media/San%20Diego%20Sights/CIMG2021.jp g.html?filters%5Bterm%5D=martin%20luther%20king%20quotes&filters%5Bprimary%5D=image s&filters%5Bsecondary%5D=videos&sort=1&o=10#/user/bipolaralilbit/media/San%20Diego%20 Littau, S. (2013, March 13). Just Say No to Bad, Immoral, and Unjust Laws by Saying Yes to Jury Duty. Retrieved from United Liberty: http://www.unitedliberty.org/articles/12980-just-say-no-to-bad- immoral-and-unjust-laws-by-saying-yes-to-jury-duty National Geographic. (n.d.). Martin King. Retrieved April 16, 2013, from National Geographic: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/photos/gallery/martin-luther-king-jr/#/05-martin-king- 010909_14089_600x450.jpg Bibliography