NJ jury trial lawyer discusses nullification“A jury consists of twelve people too stupid to figure out how to get out of serving.” That's one way of looking at it.

Allan's late mother looked at it that way. She lived (among other places) in California. The California county jury commissioner sent her a questionnaire. It had dozens of questions, all designed to determine whether, under California statutes, she qualified for jury service. Until the last question, dear mom answered each one honestly. To that point, no information that she provided was disqualifying. Then came the final question: “Is there any other reason that you know of that you could not serve as a juror?” She answered, “Yes. Judge not, lest ye, yourself, be judged.” She then signed the form, “J. Christ.” She never heard from the jury folks again.

That, we suppose, is one way to avoid serving on a jury. But although it suggests how one can avoid jury service, it fails to address the question of whether one should avoid jury service. For reasons to be indicated here, Marijuana Lawyers in New Jersey™ believe that jury service is to be welcomed, not avoided.

High school civics teachers tell us that jury service is one of citizens' responsibilites. It is a responsibility that accompanies living in a democracy. Jury service and voting. Marijuana Lawyers in New Jersey™ completely agree. There's probably not too much more taught in those classes where they do agree. But the reasons that they agree are probably far from the reasons in the teachers' platitudinous mindset.

On the subject of platitudes, there is a saying, “If voting could change anything, they would make it illegal.” That one has merit. Our social machine gives us two major political parties. Forgetting lofty labels, we can very accurately think of those parties as just “bad” and “worse.” And although Marijuana Lawyers in New Jersey™, perhaps illogically, encourage voting, voting will never profoundly change anything.

Jury service is different. Jury service, be it on a criminal or on a civil case, gives the individual incredible power. It is the power of right and wrong. It is the power to make our society more just (or less injust). It is the most governmental power that many of us will ever have. It is a fantastic opportunity. The juror can help extract justice from large arrogant corporations. The juror can convict persons who perpetrate loathsome crimes. And the juror can free persons charged with violating unjust laws. We say again, the juror can free persons charged with violating unjust laws.

Jurors can free persons charged with violating unjust laws by the simple act of voting “not guilty.” The evidence against the defendant may be overwhelming. It does not matter. The juror always has the power, regardless, of voting “not guilty.” Criminal defense lawyers are prohibited from informing jurors that they have this power. The judge will never tell jurors that they have this power. The judge, in fact, will tell jurors the exact opposite. The judge will instruct jurors that if they find such and such, then they “must” return a verdict of guilty.

This instruction is wrong. Regardless of the facts that the juror finds, the juror always has the power to vote “not guilty,” and stick to it. The juror is not required to explain his/her vote. If pressed for an explanation, the juror can simply state that s/he had a reasonable doubt about one or more of the elements of the crime. It would be improper for fellow jurors or even the judge to probe further. Ever. The thought processes of the juror are sacred.

Jurors exercising this power, or who think they might exercise it, will be excused from jury service if they verbalize their awareness of the power. After being selected as a juror, announcing refusal to follow the judge's instructions can lead to dismissal from the jury, or even fines and prosecution. Thus jurors and potential jurors contemplating exercising this power must do so with discretion if they are to avoid unpleasant consequences.

The power that Marijuana Lawyers in New Jersey™ describes on this page has a name. It is called “jury nullification.” Although now in disrepute, jury nullification has an honorable and proud history in Anglo-American jurisprudence. Persons interested in this subject can learn more from various sources on the web. In fact, an excellent book devotes itself to that topic. Marijuana Lawyers in New Jersey™ encourage that exploration.



 Overview  |  Allan Marain  |  Norman Epting, Jr. 
 Case Evaluation  |  Expungements  |  Radio Promo  |  Gun Lawyers  |  Your Privacy  |  Contact Us 

 Possession  |  Distribution  |  Intent To Distribute  |  Paraphernalia  |  Growing  |  Juveniles  |  PTI 
 CDS in Motor Veh.  |  Conditional Dschg  |  Drug Tests  |  School Zone  |  Public Housing  |  Public Parks 
 Public Buildings  |  Manufacturing  |  Drivers Licenses  |  Cocaine 

(Federal)  Possession  |  Distribution  |  Constitutionality  |  The Twilight Zone 

 On the Job  |  Stopped by Police  |  Jersey Justice  |  El Paso  |  Jury Service  |  Dangerous Drugs 
 Cannabis Oil  |  PGP Public Key  |  High Links  |  Lab Forensics  |  About Marijuana 

 AG Guidelines  |  Jill Stein, 2016  |  Donald J. Trump  |  Winston Churchill 
 Reefer Madness  |  Drug Informants  |  Just Say “No!”  |  Directions  |  How Did We Do?  |  Parking 



“He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

--The Declaration of Independence


“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”

--Arthur Schopenhauer


“Chris Christie is a disgrace not just to NJ and the USA, but to humanity as a whole. His refusal to acknowledge the majority in this country of cannabis supporters is appalling. He is literally the cancer killing our country and we need to bury this sack of garbage in a landfill FAR FAR away from politics.”

--Jason Mueller, June 30, 2015,
Responding on Yahoo! to Chris Christie announcement
that he is seeking to be President of the United States




Law Offices of Allan Marain
Attorneys and Counsellors at Law Lawyer handles marijuana charged in New Brunswick Rutgers arrests and paraphernalia charges
100 Bayard Street
P.O. Box 1030
New Brunswick NJ 08903
732-828-2020
Or Toll Free: 855-NJ-GRASS   (855-654-7277)
email: Info@NJMarijuana.com

Marijuana Lawyers in New Jersey™ and NJMarijuana.com
© Copyright 2006-2023, Allan Marain, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
All rights reserved.

For information, questions, or suggestions about our site, please email our webmaster.

Reefer, pot, weed, grass, Mary Jane, cannabis, ganja, dope, marijuana, marihuana: Call it what you will, spell it as you please, we will defend marijuana charges against you with the benefit of approximately seventy years combined experience handling marijuana and marijuana-related arrests. Centrally located in Middlesex County, New Jersey marijuana lawyers Marain and Epting also handle marijuana arrests and charges arising in Bergen, Burlington, Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren Counties. Their cases have included marijuana arrests at the Sports Complex, and at the PNC Arts Center in Holmdel. Other frequent hot spots for marijuana arrests handled include Seabright, and Seaside Heights. Rutgers University arrests in New Brunswick and Piscataway number among the frequent fliers. Arrested elsewhere? Call anyway. We can suggest experienced marijuana lawyers in other New Jersey counties, and even in states other than New Jersey.

Web site design by DNEBA Enterprises » Accessible and Effective Web Design.
Search engine optimization by Rank Magic.
Hosted by Westhost »When you expect more from your Web host.
Page last updated 16 November 2019, and displayed Sunday 10 December 2023, at 01:00:52 MST.


  10.0Allan Marain site conforms to w3c standards to better serve person charged in dorm for arrest arrested charge marijuana pot paraphernalia pipe in new jersey nj   Site of Marijuana lawyers adheres to CSS standards, to better serve persons charged with offenses related to grass drugs bongs arrested PNC Rutgers nj marijuana arrest municipal court   Site powered by Apache for users with problems relating to NJ New Jersey marijuana pot paraphernalia arrest arrested municipal court lawyer Rutgers police   Dynamic Drive provides much-valued technical assistance for attorneys at law in New Jersey court defense