General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMontana Jury Stages 'Mutiny' In Marijuana Case
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_d6b1aaca-edfc-527f-ad11-f1691fdc6e3b.html"A funny thing happened on the way to a trial in Missoula County District Court last week.
Jurors well, potential jurors staged a revolt.
They took the law into their own hands, as it were, and made it clear they werent about to convict anybody for having a couple of buds of marijuana. Never mind that the defendant in question also faced a felony charge of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs.
...District Judge Dusty Deschamps took a quick poll as to who might agree (with one juror who questioned why the govt. was wasting time and money prosecuting the case at all.) Of the 27 potential jurors before him, maybe five raised their hands. A couple of others had already been excused because of their philosophical objections."
May this be the future in 2012 and beyond for ALL such cases in every state in the U.S. until the govt. changes this bad law.
Little Star
(17,055 posts)RainDog
(28,784 posts)or to recognize when the people of this nation are far, far ahead of the politicians on an issue.
At what point, I wonder, does it become a total embarrassment for the govt to continue to uphold laws that the majority of the population rejects as unfair, illogical and racist?
Lionessa
(3,894 posts)cthulu2016
(10,960 posts)If I were called in such a case I would act to make my nullification manifest, not to allow the system to opt me out for my political views. Nullification is an important right.
By pre-excluding people who will not convict the state can defend laws even when they become very unpopular.
RainDog
(28,784 posts)that's a great indictment of the law, to me.
socialist_n_TN
(11,481 posts)That's what ALL juries need to do in marijuana cases. Even cases of sale and distribution.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)Time to stop wasting our time throwing pot smokers in prison.
RKP5637
(67,107 posts)deaths and needless hostilities. Imagine if the dumb money we spend on all of our inane wars on this and that was actually spent bettering the country, rebuilding the infrastructure, more education, bringing jobs back to America. God, but US stands for United Stupidity anymore. Frankly, some days, I wonder WTF is the use of caring.
RainDog
(28,784 posts)the law is bad in so many ways and so many Republican state legislators are introducing so many stupid laws...
I have long felt I have no real representation - along with a majority of the U.S. population on financial issues, in particular, and this is a financial issue as well as one of civil rights.
brewens
(13,582 posts)Get seated, then proceed to block conviction in every possible way.
elleng
(130,895 posts)They did their duty.
RainDog
(28,784 posts)that one actually came from huffpo but I looked for a direct link to the article... which also includes mutiny.
I kind of like the use of mutiny in this case.
elleng
(130,895 posts)Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)aren't used to people saying "honestly, you guys should worry about more important shit"
RainDog
(28,784 posts)meow2u3
(24,761 posts)The potential jury pool is playing Christian Fletcher to the government's Captain Bligh.
Vanje
(9,766 posts)RainDog
(28,784 posts)Upton
(9,709 posts)but the government, as represented by the two major parties, isn't going to be changing any laws. With precious few exceptions, they're all on the drug war gravy train...and pot is the big cash cow.
RainDog
(28,784 posts)or waste the money on court costs.
The inability to make convictions will look bad for their stats.
As I said, I hope this will become a nation-wide movement - a people's protest against unjust law.
The more people know that they can make cases impossible to hear, the fewer such cases we'll see.
Upton
(9,709 posts)but I don't think it applies to the WOD. Billions are wasted already. Support for MMJ and decriminalization is at an all time high..hasn't helped. As long as the feds hold sway, and neither major party has shown the slightest inclination to listen to reason on this topic, whatever happens at the local level will be extremely limited.
IOW, we're fucked..
RainDog
(28,784 posts)with three now petitioning to reschedule cannabis from I (no medical value) to II (medical value.)
That's a start - that's how prohibition of alcohol ended, as states chose to ignore federal law and more and more "wets" gained power over "drys" in this nation and used their voting blocs to force the issue.
If the feds don't adjust the laws, there may well come a time when the "cannabis lobby" will demand a plank on the liberal platform or else withhold support - that's the way power politics work. We're not there yet. However, when you have a majority in favor of the repeal of a law, well, at least back in the prohibition era this was true.. when democracy speaks, pols have to listen. If they don't, they lose.
It's hard to not have things happen RIGHT NOW - but the reality is that, since the advent of the information age, more and more people support the end of cannabis prohibition. the reason, imo, is that more and more information is available to overcome the propaganda put out by the "War on Drugs" supporters like the Beer and Alcohol Industry.
More studies are available for those who know how to read them. More doctors are saying publicly what they formerly only said in private consultation with their patients.
People who are honest about this issue know the U.S. cannot arrest its way out of the problem of harmful drug use - such things as heroin or crack, or win the propaganda war by arresting people for something less harmful than alcohol.
Change can come suddenly. Think of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Control-Z
(15,682 posts)but this is a year old. From the link you provided: "Posted: Sunday, December 19, 2010 5:20 pm"
Still a great story. Too bad, it appears it hasn't picked up any kind of momentum. In the year since it was originally posted I haven't heard of any similar stories. Have you?
I'd really love to see it catch on.
RainDog
(28,784 posts)I saw this from a friend. It's a good story to welcome in the New Year, no matter what, for me.
Gregorian
(23,867 posts)if it were a cannabis case.
Night Ripper
(6 posts)This is what democracy gets you. If the mob gets convinced that "drugs are bad" then too bad! You wanted mob rule (democracy) and you got it.
RainDog
(28,784 posts)and I never even got a chance to know you.
a jury refusing to agree to a possible conviction for a cannabis arrest is mob rule? lol.
I guess that's why you're no longer with us, NR.
sleep with the fishes.
Initech
(100,068 posts)Sorry judge - there's probably far more dangerous drugs in your medicine cabinet than there is in a bag of weed.
RainDog
(28,784 posts)...or should, if not. hopefully judges who are involved in this issue read Young's report as the lawyer for the DEA when he noted that cannabis was less dangerous than aspirin.
RushIsRot
(4,016 posts)Agony
(2,605 posts)Seems pretty important for citizens to have at least considered the information presented here...
Even if you don't agree with it.
It was empowering to understand this issue when I recently was called to jury duty.... no not the DU thing.
The jury was seated before they made it to me so I did not serve on the jury.
Agony
RainDog
(28,784 posts)though I've shown up every time. I've never even gotten to the point of voir dire. I just sit in the back and read a book and then go home.
Agony
(2,605 posts)I have already shot myself in the foot by asking for the secular affirmation version of the oath... the only one one who does, in all three cases, so I stick out like a sore thumb. I think next time I will just cross my fingers behind my back. I would like to serve on a jury, that seems more important anyway.
The FIJA talks about the personal decision to maybe keep this as an inner dialog and decision... if jury nullification is an option important to consider in other words.
you can keep a clean conscience by recognizing that most Americans who take an oath on a bible don't know what's in it anyway.
I've never gotten to the point at which I would have to swear an oath. I guess I would just visualize a constitution on top of a bible b/c that's what matters for truth in democracy. iow, I've never seen the bible as an impediment for unethical behavior, most esp. among those who claim they represent it.
I guess I would never go into any trial assuming I already knew the outcome but I most certainly would have existing opinions, as does everyone else who is called to jury duty.
tooeyeten
(1,074 posts)that jurors won't convict, however the media is not regularly reporting this from other cities, wonder why that is?