Pubdate: Thu, 16 Dec 2004 Source: Post and Courier, The (Charleston, SC) Copyright: 2004 Evening Post Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.charleston.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/567 Author: Ed Haas Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n1754/a09.html TRIAL BY JURY In the article, "Ruling affects role of circumstantial evidence," which appeared in a recent edition of The Post and Courier, you reported that the S.C. Supreme Court has decided that judges can no longer tell juries that "circumstantial evidence must be so strong as to exclude every reasonable hypothesis other than guilt." This ruling further strengthens the government's efforts to minimize the power the jury was intended to wield in the courtroom. Why do we have trials by jury anyhow? Why did our founding fathers find it necessary to guarantee all people the right to trial by jury? Think about it. What is the purpose of the jury? A jury is the last line of defense that the people have against an overzealous prosecutor, corrupt cop or judge. Our founding fathers thought this was a good idea, and so do I. Yet the judges, prosecutors and, sadly, most defense attorneys continue to facilitate the most horrendous of courtroom crimes -- they continue to tamper with juries. If I walked into a courtroom and spoke to jurors regarding their absolute unalienable right to ignore the judge, prosecution, evidence and even the other jurors; if I spoke of their patriotic duty to nullify laws and punishments, to practice jury nullification, I can assure you the judge would have me arrested and charged with jury tampering. But when the state instructs the jury as to how they must interpret evidence or lack of evidence, is that due process? Thankfully, more and more people are learning of jury nullification and how to get on a jury under the state's nullifier radar. Once the people finally seize control of the courtrooms again, we'll see an unprecedented number of defendants demanding a trial by jury. When we do, the weight of the court calendar will force the state to only seek prosecution for crimes that have an actual, living, breathing victim associated with it. After all, no matter how hard they try, judges cannot deny the jurors' prerogative to acquit if they think the law is wrong. Ed Haas Mount Pleasant - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin