OVERTURN A BAD VERDICT

If ever a court case was in need of jury nullification, the trial of
Charles Lynch was a good example (Re: "Lynch guilty on all charges,"
Aug. 7, 2008). The jury could have acquitted, even if the defendant
had violated a literal interpretation of the law. This concept was
summarized by our second president, John Adams, who stated, "It is
not only [the juror's] right, but his duty ... to find the verdict
according to his own best understanding, judgment, and conscience,
though in direct opposition to the direction of the court." This
approach can be used if the laws are felt by the jury to be
misapplied, inappropriate or, as in this case, contradictory. Most
judges do not want jurors to be aware of this option. For more
information see the Web site of the Fully Informed Jury Association,
www.fija.org.

Ken Shamordola

Nipomo