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.
--
Philip L. Welch
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Philwelch