3. “One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one
has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.”
― Martin Luther King, Jr.
3
Does this represent ethnicity-based nullification?
(National Geographic)
5. Sen. Greg Brophy (R-Wray) response
to HB 1224?, the bill that would limit
magazines to 15 rounds:
“I will willfully and purposefully and
civilly disobey this law (Littau,
2013).”
Sen. Brophy continues:
“There is one last line of defense, something each and everyone of us
can do to stop these laws as individuals: jury nullification
(Littau, 2013).”
Bottom line Sen. Brophy contests he would not be breaking a law
“…but the law violated Sen. Brophy’s natural right to bear arms
(Littau, 2013).”
5
Just Say “No” to Bad, Immoral, and Unjust Laws by
Saying “Yes” to Jury Duty
Sen. Greg Brophy
(Littau, 2013)
(Colorado General Assembly)
8. Teens charged in beating that killed Mexican national in Shenandoah
(Associated Press, 2009)
8
Murder victim Luis Ramirez and his fiancée,
Crystal Dillman, celebrate a family birthday
with daughter Kiara, 2, and her half-sister
Anjelina, 3. (Courtesy of Crystal Dillman)
Brandon Piekarsky, 16
(Associated Press, 2009)
Colin Walsh, 17
(Associated
Press, 2009)
Derrick Donchak, 18
(Associated Press, 2009)
9. 9
Luis Ramirez lies in his hospital bed hours before his
death at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa.
(Associated Press, 2009)
All three teens were acquitted
of all serious charges, “a
decision that elicited cheers
and claps from the defendants'
families and friends
(Associated Press, 2009).”
10. 10
Paul Butler
Professor of Law
B.A., Yale; J.D.,
Harvard
Ethnicity-based jury nullification as vote
against injustice.
12. 12
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy
and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the
crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously
ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the
accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have
compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the
Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
(US Congress)
14. 14
Associated Press. (2009, May 2). Teens Acquitted of Serious Charges in Beating Death of Mexican
Immigrant. Retrieved from Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518686,00.html
Colorado General Assembly. (n.d.). Senator Greg Brophy. Retrieved April 12, 2013, from Colorado Senate
District 1:
http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2013a/directory.nsf/MemberDetailPage?OpenForm&distri
ct=01&chamber=senate
Georgetown Law. (n.d.). Profile Paul Butler. Retrieved April 13, 2013, from GerogetownLaw:
http://www.law.georgetown.edu/faculty/butler-paul.cfm
Keith Watters & Associates. (n.d.). About Mr. Watters. Retrieved April 13, 2013, from Keith Watters &
Associates: http://www.keithwattersandassociates.com/Law-Firm-About-Mr-Watters-
Washington-DC.html
King, M. L. (n.d.). Martin Luther King quotes photos. Retrieved April 16, 2013, from photobucket:
http://media.photobucket.com/user/bipolaralilbit/media/San%20Diego%20Sights/CIMG2021.jp
g.html?filters%5Bterm%5D=martin%20luther%20king%20quotes&filters%5Bprimary%5D=image
s&filters%5Bsecondary%5D=videos&sort=1&o=10#/user/bipolaralilbit/media/San%20Diego%20
Littau, S. (2013, March 13). Just Say “No” to Bad, Immoral, and Unjust Laws by Saying “Yes” to Jury Duty.
Retrieved from United Liberty: http://www.unitedliberty.org/articles/12980-just-say-no-to-bad-
immoral-and-unjust-laws-by-saying-yes-to-jury-duty
National Geographic. (n.d.). Martin King. Retrieved April 16, 2013, from National Geographic:
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/photos/gallery/martin-luther-king-jr/#/05-martin-king-
010909_14089_600x450.jpg
Bibliography
Hinweis der Redaktion
Yes, ethnicity has an impact on the court system. In 2004, a University of Nebraska student conducted studies on the non-whites perception of the criminal justice system. Two dominant issues were identified (Neely, 2009).
Does this represent ethnicity-based nullification?OR do we assume this is racial because Dr. King is black?
The is a non-ethnic example of nullification.As of 13 MARCH 2013, the Colorado Senate is addressing laws to reduce the impact of guns on society. Issue HB 1224 is a bill which limits the number of rounds per magazine (Littau, 2013).
Paul Butler, says that jurors should acquit black men of non-violent crimes. Prisons are a place that society stores people with personal problems such as race, lack of education, lack of money, etc. Now society does not have to deal with them, they are locked-up and forgotten. There is no rehabilitation.(Georgetown Law)
Keith Watters was elected president of the Washington Bar Association in 1988, the National Bar Association in 1996, and the Bar Association of the District of Columbia in 2006. Warns that these convicts will come back to society we must do something to rehabilitate them. He continues to say, we should focus on all communities and create a truly color blind police force. It appears that Mr. Butler is in agreement by nodding his head.(Keith Watters & Associates)
In ShenandoahPennsylvania, 3 teens brutally beat Luis Ramirez. The Associated Press reported the beating as a Mexican hate crime (Associated Press, 2009).Do you these kids will receive justice, especially when the crime is motivated by hatred?
All three teens were acquitted of all serious charges, “a decision that elicited cheers and claps from the defendants' families and friends (Associated Press, 2009).” Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518686,00.html#ixzz2QL2W6JgIAn all white jury and a white prosecutor, whom denied any wrong doing in the court room (Associated Press, 2009).
Ethnicity-based jury nullification can have a positive influence as stated by Mr. Butler; he challenged to place a vote against the act of social injustice not against the action of a criminal.
Ethnicity-based jury nullification can have a negative influence as stated by Mr. Watters; he challenged that further segregation would harm society, all persons in all communities should be held accountable for crimes committed. The police force should be a color-blind entity.
How do I feel about jury nullification?The letter of the law is stated clearly: impartial jury.The spirit of the law is not so clear.Perhaps we should take heed to Dr. King’s words: