JURY NULLIFICATION

Re "A judge reverses himself," editorial, March 15: Again, The Bee had a
golden opportunity to bring some vital information to readers and failed.
While we can agree with Judge Peter Nowinski on the harshness of his
initial 90 days locked up for Jeff Jones resulting from handing out
educational fliers at the courthouse, most jurors do not know their
absolute right to vote their conscience, not withstanding the facts
presented in coming to a just verdict, sometimes in opposition to what the
judge decides in his mind is correct.

In effect, with the present system, the judge perverts the justice system
when he denies this information to prospective jurors. And the judge knows
this.

Newspapers have the obligation to continually bring awareness of complex
issues such a juror rights. Why does The Bee avoid its responsibilities on
this issue of educating citizens?

- - Eric Harlow, Paradise