Know your rights as a potential juror

Amid government corruption everywhere, it is time to take a hard look at the judicial system, and question the erosion of jury's rights in the criminal trial process. The criminal trial jury was created by federal and state constitutions to be a guardian of the individual's rights. Its purpose is to prevent oppression by the government.

Unfortunately, through measures taken by judges and prosecutors, juries are not informed of their constitutional rights, including the right of jury nullification or jury veto power; the right of a jury of one's peers to conclude that no crime has been committed even if a law has been violated. This means that the jury has the right to judge both the law as well as the fact and find a defendant not guilty regardless of the oath taken by jurors to follow the law as given by the judge.

An appellate court decision states: "If the jury feels the law is unjust, we recognize the undisputed power of the jury to acquit even if its verdict is contrary to the law as given by a judge, and contrary to evidence... If the jury feels that the law under which the defendant is accused is unjust, or that exigent circumstances justified the actions of the accused, or for any reason which appeals to their logic or passion, the jury has the power to acquit, and the courts must abide by that decision."

Jurors have the right, and also the obligation to vote according to conscience. If you have the privilege to be summoned for jury duty, to determine the future freedom and liberties of your fellow citizen, inform yourself of jury rights, because the judicial system will not. I am a member of Fully Informed Jury Association, and am passionate regarding this subject.

Leslie Thomas-Rieser

Addison