Respectfully disagree with your suggestion in final paragraph of your excellent Comment. Don’t throw away your Jury Power; you might just get the opportunity to use it for Justice.
No judge and no trial lawyer will ever inquire about Jury Nullification, so why volunteer your views?
I agree that Jury Power is an important tool that can and should by used by jurors. In the past, however, some judges have tried, post-trial, to sanction jurors for not revealing up front their knowledge and utilization of jury power. That said, the judge's wrath could have been avoided if such jurors had not, post-trial, explained their reason for acquitting, which they are not required to do. (I should probably add that as an amendment to the post.)
Post amended: Note: If you are a proponent—as I am—of Jury Power, if you make the Court aware of this when asked questions during jury selection, it will probably get you dismissed from duty and, thereafter, stricken from jury duty lists.
Also: Despite your legality as a juror to nullify law, some judges have in the past sanctioned jurors who, post-trial, announced their reasons for acquitting a defendant. Given the hostility of the judiciary toward Jury Power, it is important to understand that you are not obliged to explain your reason for acquitting a defendant. You reach a verdict, deliver it, obligation complete.
Respectfully disagree with your suggestion in final paragraph of your excellent Comment. Don’t throw away your Jury Power; you might just get the opportunity to use it for Justice.
No judge and no trial lawyer will ever inquire about Jury Nullification, so why volunteer your views?
I agree that Jury Power is an important tool that can and should by used by jurors. In the past, however, some judges have tried, post-trial, to sanction jurors for not revealing up front their knowledge and utilization of jury power. That said, the judge's wrath could have been avoided if such jurors had not, post-trial, explained their reason for acquitting, which they are not required to do. (I should probably add that as an amendment to the post.)
Post amended: Note: If you are a proponent—as I am—of Jury Power, if you make the Court aware of this when asked questions during jury selection, it will probably get you dismissed from duty and, thereafter, stricken from jury duty lists.
Also: Despite your legality as a juror to nullify law, some judges have in the past sanctioned jurors who, post-trial, announced their reasons for acquitting a defendant. Given the hostility of the judiciary toward Jury Power, it is important to understand that you are not obliged to explain your reason for acquitting a defendant. You reach a verdict, deliver it, obligation complete.