I look forward to supporting your campaign in more than just a superficial manner – and– of course, I would be delighted if you would continue to write updates re your campaign and the developing issues as we move closer to Election Day.

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I would like to commend you on your article on Jury Nullification. After first perusing your article I was very perplexed and uninformed. Your article inspired and empowered me to research: ask questions for clarity and understanding-what are the advantages and disadvantages of the current jury process according to the constitution? And how can I more effectivey stand-up for the constitution as a potential juror in the future?

In my discovery and review of jury nullification:I found that the power of the jury can be a deterrent force to racial disparities in sentencing practices and other aspects of the criminal justice system-in the ability to acquit defendant who are technically guilty-but either charged under an immoral law or a law that is charged almost exclusively against people of color.

We the People–as jurors–must decide the law as well as the facts which inevitably might change our criminal justice system and break down the walls of discrimination.

Thanks for this information and my growing awareness, that there may in fact be tools that the ordinary citizen juror can use to bring at least a little more justice to a corrupt and unjust system.

If I may, I would like to suggest more articles on jury nullification to increase public awareness and to educate and empower people to become knowledgeable regarding all of their constitution right as jurors.

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It is great to see that since the Palo Alto Free Press first opened up a discussion on jury nullification–in our publication on

“Why a fundamental understanding of jury nullification is so critical to taking back our criminal justice system”

that the mainstream press has now decided to follow suit with a brief discussion of the topic as well.

See related topic link below:

http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_20587679/trial-vietnamese-freedom-fighter-begin

In the end the more folks and press that discuss jury nullification the better the chance that we can finally bring a little justice to a system that seems bent on delivering only the letter of the law without accounting for justice as part of the equation.

The sooner we popularize jury nullification in all of our communities the sooner we will have a last opportunity to save our justice system before it crashes and burns for good.

Outstanding job Aram and we look forward to more timely articles which educates and enlightens us all concerning our criminal justice system.

The Editor of Palo Alto Free Press

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Be advised, the article, “PAPD Sting Operation Exposed,” published by Tony Ciami is an Opinion Piece and should have been framed in the context of "'ALLEGED' Sting Operation" despite that fact that there is further evidence not cited to corroborate the allegation.

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First, while the defendant’s advocacy of nullification had everything to do with why the prosecutors brought the case, Judge Wood’s decision is very narrow and her line of reasoning quite independent of
nullification.

The defendant was accused of jury tampering and Judge Wood simply found that since the defendant was handing out his material to all and sundry, and not just jurors or jurors in a specific case, it did not meet the definition of jury tampering expressed in the statute.

The content of the material being handed out isn’t germane to Judge Wood’s decision. So I think this decision says nothing, pro or con,about nullification. Second, I think this is a case of being careful what one wishes for.

Jury nullification cuts all ways including in ways that Aram might not find so good. Jury nullification was why Klansmen couldn’t be convicted even with overwhelming evidence of guilt.

It has been suggested that cops are seldom convicted in excessive use of force cases because juries are unwilling to apply the law strictly to on-duty officers, i.e., they nullify the law, in favor of the police.

Third, nullification will add to the non-uniformity in the application of the laws. For the same crime one jury may nullify against one defendant and another jury not against another. Yes the current system
hardly ensures uniformity in the application of the laws, but is adding more non-uniformity really what we want?

On a different note, could someone knowledgeable comment on how the CA Supreme Court decision essentially outlawing nullification jells with the Supreme Court’s reported endorsement of the right of juries to nullify?

There are also state laws, including in CA I believe, that prohibit defense attorneys from explicitly informing juries of their right to nullify. If the Supreme Court has endorsed nullification I find it surprising that no defendant has argued in federal court that their legal rights were violated by such strictures.

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Thanks for your thoughtful comments. I think one of the avenues to actually accomplishing the goal of securing prosecutions against bad and corrupt banking officials–is to remain actively involved in the process of electing your local District Attorney–and the State Attorney General—and, in addition–becoming as knowledgeable as possible regarding police and prosecutorial practices at both the local and state levels.

If we work collectively we can influence positive changes in both police and prosecutorial practices–that currently don’t apply an equal application of the rule of law or equal resources to prosecutions against the rich and high powered white collar criminals, rogue members of law enforcement and high ranking members of government–as compared with the normal citizen prosecuted by the state.

Unless we are relentless in our quest for knowledge in these areas –the powerful will continue to get over on the ordinary citizen. Knowledge is power and it is there for our taking.

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I would go even futher. Perhaps we should explore how banksters who skirt the edge of the law but who are clearly corrupt and dirty can be prosecuted by a jury when it’s obvious that law enforcement is asleep or bought off.

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Semper Fi

Semper Fidelis distinguishes the Marine Corps bond from any other. It goes beyond teamwork—it is a brotherhood that can always be counted on. Latin for “always faithful,” Semper Fidelis became the Marine Corps motto in 1883. It guides Marines to remain faithful to the mission at hand, to each other, to the Corps and to country, no matter what. Becoming a Marine is a transformation that cannot be undone, and Semper Fidelis is a permanent reminder of that. Once made, a Marine will forever live by the ethics and values of the Corps.

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