Constitution Lectures 6: Who is the Ultimate Arbiter? (HD version)

Who is the ultimate arbiter of the Constitution? This lecture answers that question and describes the power of the people through Jury Nullification.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• constitution
• lecture
• politics
• freedom
• liberty
• jury
• nullification

[vspqbd]

In my Criminal Justice class, we were told by our professor that Jury Nullification is when the judge overrules the jury's verdict/decision/etc, on the grounds that they didn't come to it via evidence. What are your thoughts on that?

[shanedk]

@vspqbd Everywhere in jurisprudence, jury nullification refers to the jury nullifying the law and acquitting an innocent person railroaded under a bad law.

Judges can overrule the decision of a jury if the jury convicts under a set of evidence where no reasonable jury would find guilt, but a judge can NEVER EVER reverse an acquittal.

[shanedk]

undercover343 has been blocked for bigoted comments (deleted).

[shanedk]

Nolan didn't redefine anything, LIAR. What he did was STOP the people who were redefining it. All you do is spout out baseless claims with nothing to back them up, all to fit your dogma.

The right wants to intrude in personal matters. Libertarians do not. LIBERTARIANS ARE NOT RIGHT-WING. Get over it.

[thorell9]

So instead we should give a few powerful people in the government control of the entire economy so the rich snobs can just bribe them for our money in the form of subsidies instead.

[gmsherry1953]

Again, really nice try. You may even be right. But say you wanted to overturn Social Security. You find someone willing to risk not paying the tax. Then you make the unconstitutionality argument before a jury of people who all want to get Social Security someday. Then repeat it so many times it clogs up the FICA system? Or how to oppose an undeclared war? What jury trial addresses that? And do we WANT blacks nullifying convictions of black criminals because they think everything is racist?

[shanedk]

@Luigi84289 Genital mutilation IS NOT PERSONAL FREEDOM!!!

"If I want to cut mmy balls off that is my right"

We're not TALKING about doing it to yourself! We're talking about parents having innocent babies strapped to the table and mutilated, usually without ANY anesthesia!

[Luigi84289]

@shanedk No you cannot make that illegal. the Federal Government does not have the right to hinder personal freedom. If I want to cut mmy balls off that is my right granted to me by nature and or God. Every jury should nullify any illegal drug case whatsoever that they can. Marijuana for one has never even been lawfully made illegal. Point out that the constitution does not authorize the Government to ban natural substances and the case ends there and the man goes free.

[shanedk]

@undercover343 No, genital mutilation needs to be illegal. Make it illegal for everybody, and you don't go against the First Amendment! What about this can't your pathetic bigoted mind understand?

[shanedk]

@undercover343 Look, you can make human sacrifice illegal without getting into First Amendment issues, as long as you make it illegal for EVERYBODY. The First Amendment is about not favoring ANY one group over others based on religion. Eliminate that, and the door is WIDE OPEN.

A protestant could get into power and say that Catholics can't use the Post Office. A Catholic could get into power and say that Jews can't drive on Federal roads. Wide open!

[shanedk]

@undercover343 But it gives them the POWER to make all religions illegal! Don't you get that?