Letter to the editor

Posted 3/3/22

We all have heard the importance of our vote, but few appreciate the most powerful vote that we have – the vote as a juror. Our “Informed Voters League” sent out questionnaires to all of the Texas candidates. One important question was: “Does a juror have the right to decide the law as well as the facts?”

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Letter to the editor

Posted

Dear Sir:

We all have heard the importance of our vote, but few appreciate the most powerful vote that we have – the vote as a juror. Our “Informed Voters League” sent out questionnaires to all of the Texas candidates. One important question was: “Does a juror have the right to decide the law as well as the facts?”

Although the Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled a resounding yes, it is amazing how few realize their authority as a juror, and it seems the judges are not apt to tell them.

Sadly, we received only one proper response from all of our candidates for office. The other candidates effectively nullified this special right. Here is the correct answer of David Simpson, recent candidate for Texas Senate: “A juror has no legal obligation to follow the instructions of a judge and may effectively nullify a law they believe to be immoral or unjust by ruling not guilty on a case.”

We should all be eager to serve as a juror, to exercise our most precious vote, our last protection against tyranny. (Ref. Www.fija.org. i.e. Chief Justice John Jay, 1794, and many since.)

It was once said, “The only power the judge has over the jury is their ignorance.”

Sincerely
Ken Masat
Alba