Pubdate: Sat, 29 Jun 2002
Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA)
Copyright: 2002 The Media News Group
Contact:  http://www.chicoer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/861
Author: Carlyse North
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

JURORS NOT FULLY INFORMED

Monday, at the Sacramento Federal Courthouse, the first federal case 
involving a medical marijuana cooperative began. Forty-two prospective 
jurors were dismissed due to jury contamination. Allegedly, one of the 
reasons for contamination was a piece of literature handed to all 
passersby, regarding our rights as jurors to vote our conscience.

In a trial by jury, the judge's job is to provide neutral legal advice to 
the jury, beginning with a full explanation of a juror's rights and 
responsibilities. But judges only rarely "fully inform" jurors of their 
rights, especially their right to judge the law itself and vote the verdict 
according to conscience. They regularly assist the prosecution by 
dismissing any prospective juror who will admit knowing about this right.

Trial by jury is part of our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Juries can 
nullify or veto a law. However, a 1895 Supreme Court decision held that 
jurors need not be told their rights.

Our government is "of, by and for the people." America's founders realized 
that trials by juries of ordinary citizens, fully informed of their powers 
as jurors, would confine the government to its proper role as the servant, 
not the master, of the people.

John Adams: "It's not only a juror's right, but his duty, to find the 
verdict according to his best understanding, judgment and conscience, 
though in direct opposition to the direction of the court."

For more information, you can contact the Fully Informed Jury Association, 
at www.FIJA.org.

Carlyse North

Paradise
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MAP posted-by: Beth