Criminal Justice
Should Christian Jurors Disregard Judges' Instructions?
A judge usually tells a jury that they can decide the facts in the case before them but he will decide the law. That is not correct. Juries have the final decision as to fact and law. They are more powerful than the Governor or President since those officials can only pardon after a guilty verdict. A jury can affirm that there is no guilt! Of course, that strikes at the heart of a judge’s authority, and most of them resent it, ridicule it, and will resist it whenever possible.
A judge usually tells a jury that they can decide the facts in the case before them but he will decide the law. That is not correct. Juries have the final decision as to fact and law. They are more powerful than the Governor or President since those officials can only pardon after a guilty verdict. A jury can affirm that there is no guilt! Of course, that strikes at the heart of a judge’s authority, and most of them resent it, ridicule it, and will resist it whenever possible.
Use Evidence Even if Tainted to Convict the Guilty
We are told, "It is better to free 100 guilty men than risk convicting one innocent man," but that is absurd. While no sane person wants to see an innocent individual go to jail, the above statement is fraught with error. Those "100 guilty" people will be free to prey upon, not one innocent person, but hundreds of innocent ones.
We are told, "It is better to free 100 guilty men than risk convicting one innocent man," but that is absurd. While no sane person wants to see an innocent individual go to jail, the above statement is fraught with error. Those "100 guilty" people will be free to prey upon, not one innocent person, but hundreds of innocent ones.
Does a Juror Have More Authority than a Judge?
A juror must use his authority carefully, and he must stand alone, if necessary to produce justice. He must not be intimidated by anyone, realizing that he will not answer to anyone except to his conscience and his God. He, the juror, has more authority than the judge or the governor and stands between an oppressive government and slavery.
A juror must use his authority carefully, and he must stand alone, if necessary to produce justice. He must not be intimidated by anyone, realizing that he will not answer to anyone except to his conscience and his God. He, the juror, has more authority than the judge or the governor and stands between an oppressive government and slavery.
