General Discussion

azureblue

(2,661 posts)

51. That's one of those

Tue Nov 18, 2014, 12:25 PM

Nov 2014

"overcharging" tactics. If you are caught with drugs in two separate containers, or, assuming this is crack, and you have 2 pieces, they throw this at you to escalate the jail time. Possession is a misdemeanor - sales is a felony. Cops do this to blacks on a regular basis, because they hope for a plead out, due to the severity of the charges. Felonies cost more to defend, and the cops and the DA are banking on a black person not having enough money to defend, so they use a public defender who is overworked and will push for a plead out, to reduce his work load.

If the guy was white, he would not be charged with intent to sell, because a good lawyer would see this as overcharging and get the felony thrown out, then get the possession penalty reduced to probation.

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I was called for jury duty yesterday--consternation ensued [View all] librechik Nov 2014 OP

Wow!!! Bravo!! riderinthestorm Nov 2014 #1

thanks, I was shaking in my boots! librechik Nov 2014 #2

All America should be indebted to you for the courage tell the judge what he, every judge, indepat Nov 2014 #142

+1,000 Scuba Nov 2014 #73

Yes. All Drug Laws Are Wrong. billhicks76 Nov 2014 #169

If this old guy had teens selling 'cocaine' Jenoch Nov 2014 #3

That wasn't the charge at issue. Nice strawman effort . . . NOT! - nt KingCharlemagne Nov 2014 #6

The OP said he was charged with intent to sell. Jenoch Nov 2014 #12

Not in a school and not employing underlings. Jeesh - nt KingCharlemagne Nov 2014 #17

That's one of those azureblue Nov 2014 #51

It does happen to white people too. Even those with lawyers. Live and Learn Nov 2014 #157

Prosecutors routinely pile on charges in drug cases Kelvin Mace Nov 2014 #61

The police always say intent to sell -- whether you were or not nichomachus Nov 2014 #109

Okay, but what if H2O Man Nov 2014 #29

of course not--but no one is going to get a fair trial in this country with the drug laws that exist librechik Nov 2014 #13

No good deed goes unpunished via a hypothetical irrelevancy. LanternWaste Nov 2014 #37

thx, LW! librechik Nov 2014 #39

that's an outstanding comment Voice for Peace Nov 2014 #63

You don't know because you didn't listen to the evidence treestar Nov 2014 #41

that's the thing--we shouldn't be prosecuting this guy in a court of law. librechik Nov 2014 #46

Anti-drug sentiment runs deep... freebrew Nov 2014 #75

This. My wife is on a short term run of vycodin as needed, and it is the acetomenaphin that has me Ed Suspicious Nov 2014 #170

Not unfair to the prosecutor! Just honest, heartfelt, brave. Voice for Peace Nov 2014 #66

i see CreekDog Nov 2014 #28

Wow, that is really something, isn't it? Good catch, btw! - nt KingCharlemagne Nov 2014 #30

. librechik Nov 2014 #33

I agree! H2O Man Nov 2014 #34

thx! librechik Nov 2014 #36

Ah, one of those Kelvin Mace Nov 2014 #65

Ya just can't get away wit' nuttin' around here. Jackpine Radical Nov 2014 #96

Darn that wayback machine Android3.14 Nov 2014 #98

Ta daa! . . .n/t annabanana Nov 2014 #124

Wow. In two words, you've managed the year's best zinger. closeupready Nov 2014 #185

What a stupid, irrelevant question. Jesus Christ! nt ChisolmTrailDem Nov 2014 #69

ROFLMFAO... SomethingFishy Nov 2014 #89

Shouldn't that boat be confiscated Jackpine Radical Nov 2014 #99

Yup, and McConnel has been screaming about more Federal money for the drug war SomethingFishy Nov 2014 #102

won't somebody PLEASE think of the children?! frylock Nov 2014 #91

LOL. If you have an opinion, have the fortitude to express it without the pointed, insinuating rhett o rick Nov 2014 #104

My comment/question was not about this particular case. Jenoch Nov 2014 #137

Well if that's true it would have been much better had you stated that instead rhett o rick Nov 2014 #145

With little information to go on, Jenoch Nov 2014 #146

Well, this is what you need to tell your kids: Tsiyu Nov 2014 #150

If you believe there are not dealers Jenoch Nov 2014 #152

If you believe that low level street dealers are as much of a problem Tsiyu Nov 2014 #159

You certainly are assuming a lot. Jenoch Nov 2014 #164

After reading through many of your posts Tsiyu Nov 2014 #165

you have not posted anything to indicate greater than zero knowledge of the topic CreekDog Nov 2014 #188

The only knowledge I have is from the OP, which is quite little. Jenoch Nov 2014 #190

No, what is naive is not believing that some of the prescription drugs are just as dangerous Live and Learn Nov 2014 #161

I have never made a statement saying there is not a problem Jenoch Nov 2014 #181

+1 nt Live and Learn Nov 2014 #158

you already decided that he's a drug dealer CreekDog Nov 2014 #187

I never said, wrote, posted, or decided that the Jenoch Nov 2014 #189

The prosecutor ... butterfly77 Nov 2014 #135

BRAVO!! Voice for Peace Nov 2014 #4

thx, I hope so librechik Nov 2014 #52

I'm impressed. gvstn Nov 2014 #5

thanks, I got pretty mouthy in grad school. librechik Nov 2014 #50

You should have stayed Savannahmann Nov 2014 #7

^^this^^ nt tblue Nov 2014 #11

I know, I thought about it furiously until they dismissed me. librechik Nov 2014 #19

This message was self-deleted by its author guyton Nov 2014 #128

It's certainly an interesting case Major Nikon Nov 2014 #177

thanks, I worried about the timing. Next time i'll save it. n/t librechik Nov 2014 #27

Not sure I agree hueymahl Nov 2014 #35

bless you! and you are correct about the pleas-- librechik Nov 2014 #38

You could always also go for jury nullification. Jackpine Radical Nov 2014 #100

Why the quotation marks around the word cocaine? Just curious. WillowTree Nov 2014 #8

I'm guessing because she assumes they found crack, not powered cocaine. moriah Nov 2014 #18

yes--I just assumed. That guy was not a "cocaine" dealer librechik Nov 2014 #21

Cool! Except we need to serve on juries. tblue Nov 2014 #9

you are right-- librechik Nov 2014 #53

you're right. I've regretted being too honest in jury selection Voice for Peace Nov 2014 #70

Tell it to your fellow jury members, not the judge. Yo_Mama Nov 2014 #10

thanks for the advice, I suppose I could have been more subversive. Maybe next time! n/t librechik Nov 2014 #26

What you did took a lot of courage and I applaud you for it. rhett o rick Nov 2014 #108

Good for you! liberalhistorian Nov 2014 #14

will remember that for next year, thanks! n/t librechik Nov 2014 #54

I dont have an issue with pot Travis_0004 Nov 2014 #15

There should be NO criminal penalties for possessing, or personally ingesting anything! Elmer S. E. Dump Nov 2014 #76

Exactly! eom LittleGirl Nov 2014 #105

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, branford Nov 2014 #114

AND you are entitled to your opinion. Elmer S. E. Dump Nov 2014 #120

The issue is whether you would be honest about your opinions if called for jury duty. branford Nov 2014 #122

One thing I'm not is dishonest. Elmer S. E. Dump Nov 2014 #149

Lie Or This Fly Gets It! ProfessorGAC Nov 2014 #186

Good. I hope by not lying all the flies die. Mosquitos too! Elmer S. E. Dump Nov 2014 #191

Hmmm! ProfessorGAC Nov 2014 #192

I'm not impressed Lee-Lee Nov 2014 #16

I would have been stopped at some point. My dad was an abusive Denver cop librechik Nov 2014 #25

Having endured abuse from Denver cops... MindPilot Nov 2014 #141

Thank you! Warpy Nov 2014 #20

thank you warpy--I am really of two minds about it librechik Nov 2014 #22

You stood up and told the truth Warpy Nov 2014 #23

Don't see any risk hueymahl Nov 2014 #40

I'm also of two minds after reading .. I did once make a point of being utterly honest Voice for Peace Nov 2014 #72

I agree with you about the drug laws. Would be best to be a part of the jury. Sunlei Nov 2014 #24

Thanks, I'm convinced librechik Nov 2014 #56

Good on you!!! nt SalviaBlue Nov 2014 #31

Excellent, excellent! rusty fender Nov 2014 #32

That story is cool. nt Dreamer Tatum Nov 2014 #42

thanks, Dreamer! n/t librechik Nov 2014 #79

Jury Nullification HoosierCowboy Nov 2014 #43

gosh, I had no idea, but several have mentioned that in this thread librechik Nov 2014 #55

been in your shoes before... iamthebandfanman Nov 2014 #44

thanks for trying! librechik Nov 2014 #59

MAN! FABULOUS! Impressive, librechik! calimary Nov 2014 #45

that's a low bar, calimary lol librechik Nov 2014 #62

Hey, I am the original low bar! calimary Nov 2014 #116

Btw - I LOVE your little percussion video! calimary Nov 2014 #117

........ daleanime Nov 2014 #47

ah, thanks! librechik Nov 2014 #64

Damn! They should have let you be foreman! KamaAina Nov 2014 #48

after this thread, that's what I'm going for next time librechik Nov 2014 #67

That would make a killer episode of Law & Order. KamaAina Nov 2014 #49

Bravo! MohRokTah Nov 2014 #57

My objection was mandatory sentencing laws Kelvin Mace Nov 2014 #58

!! Jack Rabbit Nov 2014 #60

I'm as surprised as you librechik Nov 2014 #85

Good for you! hedgehog Nov 2014 #68

thanks hh! librechik Nov 2014 #101

UNREC brooklynite Nov 2014 #71

hypothetical straw man librechik Nov 2014 #80

You got me...nobody EVER gets arrested for gun possession brooklynite Nov 2014 #86

Hence, the judicious and righteous incarceration of patients ingesting medical marijuana in Texas. LanternWaste Nov 2014 #119

Many here are saying that you should have kept quiet Curmudgeoness Nov 2014 #74

thanks for the thoughtful reply, Curmudgeoness librechik Nov 2014 #82

Good for you. NaturalHigh Nov 2014 #77

Freaking awesome! We just decriminilized most drugs to a misdemeanor in CA. grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #78

I am so glad you did this. iscooterliberally Nov 2014 #81

thank you dear scooter librechik Nov 2014 #84

LOL - I have been here a long time. I just don't post much. iscooterliberally Nov 2014 #94

I've been called to jury duty a few times but have never served on one. hunter Nov 2014 #83

Same here. We have the system where you are added to a pool and have to phone in to see if FSogol Nov 2014 #87

Never been called, never will davidpdx Nov 2014 #166

good for you!!! SCantiGOP Nov 2014 #88

thx, SC--love your sig! librechik Nov 2014 #97

That's not really jury nullification. branford Nov 2014 #113

I've seen this before: "define it and then call them wrong" jhart3333 Nov 2014 #156

You can personaly define a term any way you wish, branford Nov 2014 #162

There you go again. jhart3333 Nov 2014 #184

Yay! You did good! Sienna86 Nov 2014 #90

Very noble, but you crucified the poor guy JayhawkSD Nov 2014 #92

wrong, I don't feel so good about it. In fact it's pretty nauseating. librechik Nov 2014 #95

JayhawkSD : SCantiGOP Nov 2014 #107

reread the OP annabanana Nov 2014 #125

Thank you for standing up! PasadenaTrudy Nov 2014 #93

Been there Cartoonist Nov 2014 #103

yikes! librechik Nov 2014 #151

Outstanding! rug Nov 2014 #106

You are a brave soul. nt Chalco Nov 2014 #110

I found the easiest way to be excused from the jury is to be completely, honest. alfredo Nov 2014 #111

As a juror YarnAddict Nov 2014 #112

you are mistaken grasswire Nov 2014 #155

You are awesome Tsiyu Nov 2014 #115

Fuck. obxhead Nov 2014 #118

12 Angry Men !! bleedinglib Nov 2014 #121

Should have kept your mouth shut, got on the jury, and aquitted the man. ncjustice80 Nov 2014 #123

Jury Nullification: Google it. Hoppy Nov 2014 #126

Viva, librechik. Speak truth to power. merrily Nov 2014 #127

Good response but you must lie and nullify. Telling the truth and being forthright just leads to a TheKentuckian Nov 2014 #129

It's called jury nullification vlyons Nov 2014 #130

thank you! G_j Nov 2014 #131

K&R! Kudos! Rhiannon12866 Nov 2014 #132

I stayed and acquitted mine. Fuck 'em. n/r jtuck004 Nov 2014 #133

As a fellow Coloradan... kag Nov 2014 #134

Well done for having the integrity to make that clear. Donald Ian Rankin Nov 2014 #136

Yay, I did the same, got excused duhneece Nov 2014 #138

i like jury duty. unionthug777 Nov 2014 #139

Occupy Juries... seems to be a good idea too on these cruel cases stuffmatters Nov 2014 #140

bravo heaven05 Nov 2014 #143

Wonderful! babylonsister Nov 2014 #144

I was on jury duty one time and completely forgot getting the notice. I could have gotten out brewens Nov 2014 #147

An awesome deed you did! Dont call me Shirley Nov 2014 #148

Too bad you didn't stay quite and try to get on the jury. ZombieHorde Nov 2014 #153

nullification! grasswire Nov 2014 #154

Excellent move if you couldn't be seated and remain a holdout. lonestarnot Nov 2014 #160

I'm sure the Public Defender was very annoyed woolldog Nov 2014 #163

Not sure I agree with the original post BruceW Nov 2014 #167

Way to go, librechik! Enthusiast Nov 2014 #168

I Would Have Gone RobinA Nov 2014 #171

My thoughts exactly. Nullification is a right, not a reason to recuse yourself. Amimnoch Nov 2014 #172

Fantastic! Thespian2 Nov 2014 #173

I hope I act like you did if I am ever in your situation. marble falls Nov 2014 #174

Jury Nullification, all juries have that right. CaptainTruth Nov 2014 #175

You are a hero in my eyes. And I love that about 20 hands went up. FourScore Nov 2014 #176

I did that one time leftyladyfrommo Nov 2014 #178

God bless you! Baitball Blogger Nov 2014 #179

I agree with you, but I would have stayed and voted my conscience. DesertDiamond Nov 2014 #180

Great story Gothmog Nov 2014 #182

BRAVO!!!! B Calm Nov 2014 #183

I had a similar experience. Plus, I am a physician. McCamy Taylor Nov 2014 #193

Why would you be surprised that the defendant was represented by an attorney branford Nov 2014 #194