Jury Nullification Essay

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Jury Nullification Paper John Doe CJA 344 August 2012 Instructor Name Jury Nullification Paper Jury Nullification and it’s affects on the criminal justice system. Jury Nullification is a process that allows jurors to acquit an individual, even when they are technically guilty, and not warrant for punishment. In essence the juror are suggesting that the law in general is unfair or in a particular case. Jury Nullification “Is rooted in English common law and is sometimes used in cases, in which the jury believes a prosecutor enforced an unpopular law or a jury sympathizes with the defendant” (McNamara & Burns, 2009, p. 265). Because of perceived mistreatment of African American by the criminal justice system, Jury Nullification has become controversial because a number of well-known African American scholars encouraged Black jurors to acquit Black defendants (McNamara & Burns, 2009). Within this paper an explanation will identify if ethnicity influences courtroom proceedings and judicial practices, summarize the arguments for and against ethnicity-based jury nullification. Additionally this paper will include a contemporary example of ethnicity-based jury nullification and conclude by selecting a position for or against ethnicity-based jury nullification while defending the position. Ethnicity Influences Ethnicity not only influences courtroom proceedings and judicial practices, but also practices prior to and following. Because racism still exists within the world, it will continue to overlap within the criminal justice system. According to Reducing Racial Disparity in the Criminal Justice System (2000) criminal justice personnel will likely identify with individuals who mirror them, which means judges and prosecutors possibly are more amenable “To, consideration of pretrial or sentencing options for defendants with whom they sense a connection” (Reducing
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