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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJury nullification becoming an issue in pot prosecutions
JOE MOZINGO
Julie Shemitz watched warily as the judge asked prospective jurors whether they or anyone close to them had a card for medical marijuana.
Ten hands lifted, a third of the jury pool.
"Look at all those hands," the judge said.
An assistant U.S. attorney, Shemitz knew that this would be a problem.
The defendant, Noah Kleinman, ran a North Hollywood pot dispensary. Federal prosecutors rarely targeted medical dispensaries these days, but they accused Kleinman of using the shop as a front to sell large quantities of marijuana to other distributors in Los Angeles and to street dealers on the East Coast.
Shemitz felt she had a strong case. Drug Enforcement Administration agents had emails, ledgers, surveillance records and witnesses, including Kleinman's partner, employees, growers and out-of-state buyers.
more
http://www.latimes.com/local/great-reads/la-me-c1-pot-prosecutor-story.html#page=1
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)The 'war on drugs' has destroyed more lives than the drugs it supposedly combats. If the same amount of resources had instead been poured into rehab and treatment, rather than incarceration and military toyd for swat teams, the country would be a lot better off today.
Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)unjust idea behind the ruination.
(snip)
"She didn't relish the outcome Kleinman was a father of two young children but she didn't second-guess her work.(/snip)
"As a prosecutor, the thing we will not stand for is when someone doesn't take responsibility for what he does," she said after the trial concluded. "He's going to get a lot of time, and he should.""
pscot
(21,024 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)Juries were also supposed to know the details of what happened, even if it was only gossip they'd picked up in the 'hood; and they were supposed to know as well if the accused was basically a good person or a habitual troublemaker.
Now,all of the above is excluded from the purview of the jury, either because it is kept away from the jury entirely, as was the blood in OJ's car, or because the judge gives the jury instructions.
tridim
(45,358 posts)Cannabis is hereby legal, just like Spinach.
No more jury nullification needed, and no more lawyers, no more judges, no more crooked cops and no more freaking for-profit prisons.
MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)They did not understand that no matter what the evidence was, they could still acquit regardless.
What needs to happen is a nationwide jury nullification education program needs to be conducted. Advertisements etc. explaining the power of the jury.
Dustlawyer
(10,495 posts)not letting in certain evidence that would ordinarily be admissible. There are too many (not all) Judges elected to do a certain thing, and by golly they do it justice be damned!
marble falls
(57,080 posts)Nuclear Unicorn
(19,497 posts)If we have a jury system then juries have the ability to nullify, regardless of statutory requirements. The alternative, to have citizens judge solely by government officers, strikes me as much worse and they could just as easily not convict racist murderers.
MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)truth2power
(8,219 posts)buy, sell, grow etc. Nada!
This insanity has got to stop.
And you're idea about jury nullification is a good one. Nationwide education program.
MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)Bonx
(2,053 posts)I would nod my head at everything the prosecutor said & pretend to be a no-nonsense conservative drug warrior. Right up until I spoiled the verdict with an steadfast 'not guilty'.
truth2power
(8,219 posts)Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)FIJA works to:
Inform potential jurors of their traditional, legal authority to refuse to enforce unjust laws
Inform potential jurors that they cannot be required to check their consciences at the courthouse door
Inform potential jurors that they cannot be punished for their verdicts
Inform everyone that juror vetojury nullificationis a peaceful way to protect human rights against corrupt politicians and government tyranny
That is FIJAs message.
JURORS GUIDE
On the Grand Jury
Jurors Handbook
Current State Constitutional Authority for Jury Veto
If You Are Called For Jury Duty
If You Are Facing Charges
Demeter
(85,373 posts)and it's about time.
Corruption in high places will not go away by itself. It has to be shown the door by civil disobedience and opposition.
Wondered recently about this.
Lenomsky
(340 posts)The jury deliberated for a little over two hours.
Guilty on all counts.
Kleinman looked shocked, face drawn, blinking slowly. He was ordered to return for sentencing Sept. 29.
Romulox
(25,960 posts)ck4829
(35,069 posts)truth2power
(8,219 posts)Keep those beds filled. Otherwise you're losing money.
Kinda like running a bed & breakfast.
Takket
(21,563 posts)Tom Hartman just did a whole segment on this very issue and referenced this very thread on his show! "Posted by n2doc on democratic underground dot com".