2007-11-01 09:52:21 · 7 answers · asked by Shontia B 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
No, because its not up to the jury to make laws. Thats the job of our elected officials.
2007-11-01 09:55:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, because it leads to inconsistent results. If juries were able to engage in nullification, then if you got a panel of 12 people who suddently believed that drug laws were bad and users are punished too much, then that ONE GUY goes free. Then you get a different panel of 12 who believes the drug laws or OK, then that ONE GUY goes to prison.
The hallmark of our system is consistency, reasonable expectation, and due process. It's simply unfair when one guy walks, and another doesn't, even though both committed the same acts, simply because one panel doesn't "like" the law he's being prosecuted under.
To the extent that we inject "justice" into the system (i.e. giving people breaks), that should be done by those who are more "expert" in the system, i.e. judges in lenient sentencing (who've seen lots of cases and truly know an unjust prosecution from the run-of-the-mill kind) or the executive, through the pardon system.
2007-11-01 17:03:18 · answer #2 · answered by Perdendosi 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO - as jurors, they are required to objectively view a specific case to see whether the defendant has acted against existing laws (just or unjust).
YES - as citizens, if they believe the laws are unjust they can elect duly appointed officials to revise or revoke the legal code. In this fashion they ARE able to change/nullify laws they believe to be "wrong".
2007-11-01 17:10:13 · answer #3 · answered by CanTexan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Laws are made by those in the government (elected by the people). A jury's job is to determine if the law was broken or if here is not enough evidence to prove it. A jury and judge are bound by the laws as they are written.
Hope this helps,
John
2007-11-01 16:59:16 · answer #4 · answered by earnest dubois 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
no way. the responsiblity of the jury is to decide if the existing law or laws have been broken.
2007-11-01 16:59:59 · answer #5 · answered by Deb 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Certainly they should. We all have a duty to resist unjust laws.
2007-11-01 16:56:27 · answer #6 · answered by gunplumber_462 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, only follow them
2007-11-01 16:59:46 · answer #7 · answered by Jan Luv 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋