Watching This Video Disqualifies You From Jury Duty for Life
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN links it as the clearest short explainer of jury nullification and how the jury system works, often in threads on prosecutors and trials.
What it is
CGP Grey explains jury nullification, a juror's power to acquit despite the law, and why mentioning it can get you struck from jury selection.
Recommended by 3 HN commenters across 3 different months, 2015 to 2024.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec Karunamon · 2015-04 · on “A Grand Juror Speaks: The inside story of how prosecutors always get their way”
I'm sorry, but that's a rather inaccurate view as to the justification for jury nullification. It is not a thing that's directly provided for in the law, it's a confluence of two legal principles: juries can't be held liable for their decisions, and the prohibition against double jeopardy. There's also the problem that that when people are told about nullification, they consider evidence less than they otherwise would. In other words, i'd argue that there are some very good reasons for this setup, as inconsistent and illogical as it sounds. Great video that explains this: [this video]
Recommends aaron695 · 2021-06 · on “A Juror’s Guide to Going Rogue”
Feels like a pretty unethical article on an 'ethical' website. They clearly have a bias on the issues of the cases which they didn't even need to mention. CGP Grey did a interesting video on this [this video] CGP Grey claim now you know the idea you might not be able to use it. There have been a few arrests of different people advocating for jury nullification (Which I think only applies if you talk to actual jury members, hence why the arrests happen outside of court houses) ie [LINK]
Recommends cornstalks · 2022-08 · on “Man arrested for promoting jury nullification wins federal case”
CGP Grey has a video discussing jury nullification, for those interested in a further explanation of the subject: [this video]
Cites LinuxBender · 2022-08 · on “Ask HN: Do you believe in the right to a trial?”
I am not a lawyer but have an opinion on this question. Our laws are written in a way that in effect demand a trial by peers. Most laws have vague clauses, conditions that can permit a judge to determine a person to be any degree of innocent to guilty. Some call this wiggle-room. Judges can make mistakes and/or can be biased. People must be able to interpret the spirit of the law and the original intent. Adding to this there is the issue of stare decisis that can make laws lean in a particular direction that may not always apply to the situation they were originally formed from. People must be able to determine if case law is applicable. Even a trial by a jury of peers may not be good enough
Cites LinuxBender · 2023-03 · on “Nullification of Laws (U.S. Constitution)”
A similar one that is also rarely attempted AFAIK is Jury Nullification [1] I've heard it suggested to be used to be disqualified for jury selection but have no idea how many people have actually tried to use it. i.e. that ones states to the lawyers during jury selection that they believe in the use of invoking it Here's [2] a video about it. [1] - [LINK] [2] - [this video]
Cites NalNezumi · 2024-07 · on “Joe Biden stands down as Democratic candidate”
I'm aware of jury nullification (thank you cgp gray [1]) but afaik I don't think jury nullification can be equated to "doing nothing rather than doing the insane". Jury nullification have a lot of uncomfortable implications to the legal system and that's one of the reasons it's not shared to potential juries, but implicit asked. The systematic implication can be pararelled to politician's in the long run deciding nonvoters concern can be ignored. Jury nullification comparisons comes with a bit of a blind faith in the other juries (because in this situation you're not replaced, the resting juries just have more votes) are sane. That said I know you're not advocating for nonvoting as a viable