Pubdate: Wed., Oct. 8, 1997 Source: Rocky Mountain News Contact: Address: 400 W. Colfax, Denver, CO 80204 Phone: (303) 8925000 Fax: (303) 8925499 Webpage: http://www.denverrmn.com/ Author: Ruth Klein Anarchy exists when those who sit on juries disregard our precious laws In a recent Speakout column ("Passing on wellhidden information"), Laura Kriho says she believes the general population is ignorant of jury nullification. Oh really? The world watched in astonishment when a jury acquitted O.J. Simpson with evidence that was overwhelmingly for conviction. Johnnie Cochran reminded the jury of all the past injustices perpetrated on blacks and insinuated that evidence be damned. Kriho says that "to serve on a jury is a great responsibility." It is too bad she didn't take that to heart when she took her oath. Or did she have her fingers crossed? Here is the oath: "Do you solemnly swear (or affirm) that you will try the case now before the court and arrive at a verdict according to the evidence and the law as contained in the instructions of the court (so Help you God)?" Kriho was either deceptive or ignorant when she took that oath. Just as judges receive laws from the state and federal government and swear they will uphold them, so also are "mini" judges (a jury) expected to uphold these laws. Ethical people would excuse themselves from a case when their selfinterest was opposed to the law. Law is our sanctuary and its beauty is its standards. Anarchy exists when people on juries disregard our precious laws. Before civil rights legislation, some white juries in the South had this same lawless attitude resulting in acquittal of the white murderers of poor blacks. Would any of us want to be judge by people who lie under oath? I think not. Barring great changes in our democracy, I will choose to vote, lobby legislators and join advocacy groups to pass laws I believe in. Kriho has the freedom to do the same. Ruth M. Klein Boulder