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St. Cloud State University
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NORML offers education on rights of jurors
By Erik Anderson
Published:
Thursday, April 7, 2005
The SCSU chapter of the National Organization for the Reformation of Marijuana Laws (NORML) hosted an event for the Fully Informed Jury Association (FIJA) Tuesday night.
The event, which drew a small crowd, was an effort to discuss informed juries.
The presentation started with a 45-minute film of Larry Dodge speaking at a convention.
Larry Dodge, a co-founder of FIJA, spoke about applying political power to court juries.
"Judges rarely inform jurors of their right to judge the law itself and to vote according to their conscience," Dodge said. "However, it's the judge's job to give a full and truthful explanation of a juror's rights."
Noting the importance of informing a jury, Dodge stated that the main purpose of FIJA was to inform juries and pass legislation in order to inform juries.
Dodge also gave several examples of where informed juries voted against existing laws, and instead, with their conscience.
Speaking about how jury ignorance has been a long battle, Dodge told the story of William Penn's trial and the juries refusal to convict Penn.
"This isn't a new thing, or just an American thing," Dodge said. "Back in the 1600s, in the trial of William Penn, the jury was informed of its rights. And they refused to find Penn guilty even after they (the jury) were themselves imprisoned."
Trying to demonstrate the importance of a trial by jury, Dodge spoke about the Salem Witch Trials.
"In the Salem Witch Trials, there were 19 deaths, but 52 acquittals," Dodge said. "The juries just stopped convicting their neighbors of illegal laws."
Dodge also cited recent cases where FIJA has been active.
"We've gone to the Randy Weaver trial, the Jack Kevorkian trial, the Waco trial," Dodge said. "And now we're going to the Heidi Fleiss trial."
Dodge also spoke on the importance of an informed jury.
"It is not only his right, but his duty, to find the verdict according to his own best understanding, judgment, and conscience, though in direct opposition to the direction of the court," he said, quoting John Adams.
Dennis Winkelman, the Benton county coordinator for FIJA, spoke after the film, commenting on the importance of justice by jury.
"We have the right for a trial by jury," Winkelman said. "We can't let ignorance take away that right."
Speaking on current court precedents and trends, Winkelman said that it was a crime.
"We are being robbed," Winkelman said. "It's a crime that injustice is being passed off as justice."
Winkelman also referred to a famous leader to emphasize his point.
"I consider trial by jury as the only anchor yet imagined by man by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution," he said, quoting Thomas Jefferson.
Winkelman said that a jury is the only way for a law to be justice.
"These judges tell the jury to only judge the facts," Winkelman said. "That isn't the law-- that's a crime."
In responding to a request to show the film for a class, Winkelman heartily approved.
"There is nothing better than a captive audience to educate," Winkelman said. "Just ask the government."
Winkelman also added that he was trying to focus on a countywide jury education.
"We should focus on educating the county on jury rights," Winkelman said. "If the county is educated, any jury they (the courts) get will be a fully informed jury."
The audience seemed to appreciate the event.
Heather Jadwinski, a member of NORML, commented on the FIJA event, and plans for educating the county.
"It's a grassroots organization," Jadwinski said. "It's a great way to get changes to take place."
Jadwinski also hoped that there could be more involvement between FIJA and NORML.
"It was a short notice for the event," said Jadwinski. "Hopefully, we can work something out so there can be more interest shown in the future."
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