On Jul 9, 2006, at 1:24 PM, Michael Snow wrote:
Jury nullification also reduced the effectiveness of the American prohibition of alcohol. Similarly, juries in African-American communities have apparently been known to acquit black defendants of certain crimes (particularly drug crimes) in response to perceived racism on the part of the police.
When I pointed out the real meaning of jury nullification I certainly had no intention of starting a racially charged digression. While the possibility of disparate enforcement of the law along racial lines is certainly a serious issue, I've never heard that African-American juries regularly acquit criminals on the basis of race.
I had no such intention either, I was simply repeating something I had read previously. I certainly did not mean to imply that "African- American juries regularly acquit criminals on the basis of race", because it is not the race of the defendant per se, but rather the defendant's perceived status as a victim of racism, that is the basis of such acquittals. Or at least so I have been led to believe.
Otherwise, to find actual examples of racial jury nullification I think you have to look at the *white* juries...this explains why some of jury nullification's most ardent advocates are found in the political fringe where white racists, survivalist militia groups, and radical "constitutionalists" meet.
That's all I'll have to say about this, since the discussion no longer directly relates to Wikipedia.
There's nothing better than to call jury nullification advocates racist and then wash your hands of the entire affair. (I was trying to be neutral in my presentation of what I had heard, but what the hell--if I'm on a jury, I'm not putting someone in prison for getting caught with some weed on them, no matter what the law says. Apparently this means I'm a racist.) Ironically, you're responding to a message in which I cited jury nullification as an antidote to police racism. I have to commend you on a masterful job of trolling, Michael Snow. You skillfully combined the race card, pretending to be the good guy, and a passive-aggressive tone to subtly take this discussion beyond the edge of reason, all with the utmost civility. I'm actually rather impressed.