JURORS NOT FULLY INFORMED

Monday, at the Sacramento Federal Courthouse, the first federal case
involving a medical marijuana cooperative began. Forty-two prospective
jurors were dismissed due to jury contamination. Allegedly, one of the
reasons for contamination was a piece of literature handed to all
passersby, regarding our rights as jurors to vote our conscience.

In a trial by jury, the judge's job is to provide neutral legal advice to
the jury, beginning with a full explanation of a juror's rights and
responsibilities. But judges only rarely "fully inform" jurors of their
rights, especially their right to judge the law itself and vote the verdict
according to conscience. They regularly assist the prosecution by
dismissing any prospective juror who will admit knowing about this right.

Trial by jury is part of our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Juries can
nullify or veto a law. However, a 1895 Supreme Court decision held that
jurors need not be told their rights.

Our government is "of, by and for the people." America's founders realized
that trials by juries of ordinary citizens, fully informed of their powers
as jurors, would confine the government to its proper role as the servant,
not the master, of the people.

John Adams: "It's not only a juror's right, but his duty, to find the
verdict according to his best understanding, judgment and conscience,
though in direct opposition to the direction of the court."

For more information, you can contact the Fully Informed Jury Association,
at www.FIJA.org.

Carlyse North

Paradise