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RainDog

(28,784 posts) Sat Dec 31, 2011, 08:31 PM Dec 2011

Montana Jury Stages 'Mutiny' In Marijuana Case [View all]

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 weren’t 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.

36 replies

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Highlight:

Montana Jury Stages 'Mutiny' In Marijuana Case [View all] RainDog Dec 2011 OP

It's about time and I don't even indulge! k&r Little Star Dec 2011 #1

Yeah. you don't have to be someone who uses cannabis to recognize bad law. RainDog Dec 2011 #3

The article is a year old, and it hasn't happened since that I've read, so don't get all hopeful. Lionessa Jan 2012 #26

This is wrong. Those jurors had an obligation to lie and serve on the jury cthulu2016 Dec 2011 #2

if the prosectuors won't seat a jury cause they can't get a conviction RainDog Dec 2011 #4

I agree with making nullification manifest..... socialist_n_TN Dec 2011 #6

good. Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #5

Our drug laws are stupid, all they do is increase the black market for drugs and create RKP5637 Dec 2011 #7

yeah, I know what you mean RainDog Dec 2011 #13

I'd show up dressed like a redneck from hell! Even wear a Nascar hat. brewens Dec 2011 #8

Bad headline: Jury POOL MEMBERS truthfully informed judge they disagreed with the law. elleng Dec 2011 #9

just posting the headline I first saw RainDog Dec 2011 #10

Gotcha; not blaming you, just explaining. elleng Dec 2011 #17

It's only called a "mutiny" because the control freak authoritarians among us Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #11

LOL. I LOVE that part of this story n/t RainDog Dec 2011 #14

It's more like a real life "Mutiny on the Bounty" meow2u3 Jan 2012 #31

AWesome Vanje Dec 2011 #12

AGreed n/t :) RainDog Dec 2011 #18

Excellent.. Upton Dec 2011 #15

When they can't get convictions, they won't want to make the arrests RainDog Dec 2011 #16

All nice and logical.. Upton Dec 2011 #19

the states are bringing it to the DEA RainDog Dec 2011 #20

Not that it matters Control-Z Dec 2011 #21

here's a good link RainDog Dec 2011 #22

I'll be damned! I'm a potential juror in two weeks, and I was thinking of doing the same thing Gregorian Jan 2012 #23

too bad Night Ripper Jan 2012 #24

I see you're no longer wit us, Night Ripper RainDog Jan 2012 #27

Wait - the charge was distributing dangerous drugs?? Initech Jan 2012 #25

bet the judge knows that's true, too RainDog Jan 2012 #28

I was dismissed from a drug trial jury for this very reason. RushIsRot Jan 2012 #29

Fully Informed Jury Association Agony Jan 2012 #30

I've never been seated for jury duty RainDog Jan 2012 #32

When I get to that part Agony Jan 2012 #35

lol RainDog Jan 2012 #36

not unusual tooeyeten Jan 2012 #33

really? do you have some real world examples? n/t RainDog Jan 2012 #34