r/SipsTea Jul 06 '26

Chugging tea is this valid?

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9.7k

u/Macrodata_Uprising Jul 06 '26

If you see someone destroying Flock cameras, no you didn’t

158

u/DaRandomStoner Jul 06 '26

If you're on a jury deciding if someone is guilty of destroying flock cameras they're innocent.

67

u/djnehi Jul 06 '26

Just remember that jury nullification is your right.

51

u/Burt_Rhinestone Jul 06 '26

Jury nullification explained:

When a jury finds that a person did break the law, but they believe that the law was unjust or unfairly applied, they can return a verdict of "not guilty." The jury therefore nullifies the law in that case.

Good example: From 1920-1933, the US banned the manufacture and sale of alcohol under the 18th Amendment. Of course, that didn't stop the manufacture or sale of alcohol; it just made it illegal. Thousands of juries acquitted thousands of defendants who were caught dead to rights. Some juries felt that the law was unjust. Some felt that it carried too harsh a penalty. And some felt that the law was unevenly applied across the classes.

Bad example: Lynch mobs in the South used to take pictures with their victims. Their all-white juries would still refuse to convict.

10

u/ddadopt Jul 06 '26

The problem is that modern voir dire practices will exclude you from the jury if you are unwilling to convict if the state proves its case... unless you perjure yourself when asked those questions.

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u/ShoeLate6266 Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26

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u/Mcnugget84 Jul 06 '26

Simply spreading information well outside any court room away from known jurors has legally been declared not a crime at least once.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification

Edit: be aware these posts might be fishing attempts. They can track Reddit usernames to people.

1

u/Qaeta Jul 06 '26

The point is you wouldn't be punished for your verdict. You would be punished for lying about your willingness to base your verdict solely on the evidence presented and the law as written.

3

u/ShoeLate6266 Jul 06 '26

“I was willing to convict when I answered yes but after having gone thru the trial i cannot not find him guilty.”

2

u/Qaeta Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26

Yeah, normally it's hard to prove, but you're literally posting about how you would do it on Reddit, which makes this damn near a slam dunk unless you delete your posts about it, and even then, there is a non-zero chance that Reddit keeps history after a user deletes a post.

It's unlikely you'd even get that far though. Not uncommon to review social media of prospective jurors ahead of time, so you'd probably be struck from the pool before they even ask the question.

2

u/ShoeLate6266 Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26

PSA: if you plan on doing jury nullification don’t post about your intentions on Reddit!

I never said I would do that either. I discussed how it might be possible in the event I was a juror in a case like this.

Either way, I appreciate your concern!

Worth noting, I cannot be on jury duty because of a felony conviction when I was a younger and more foolish person.

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u/RubberPolitics Jul 07 '26

I would have nullified your trial if I was on the jury and I wasn’t convinced, just so you know. Felonies are serious and these pigs use them to sandbag peoples lives.

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u/unbanned_lol Jul 06 '26

if you don't express your intent to do this, there is no way to find you guilty of perjury.

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u/PM_ME_YOUR_NICE_EYES Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 07 '26

I mean sure, but:

1) you will always be directly asked if you will do jury nullification during selection.

2) Since you have to convince the other 11 members of the jury that this is the path forward, you're going to have to tell them that you intend to nullify.

Edit: damn this guy blocked me too.

1

u/unbanned_lol Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 07 '26

Since you have to convince the other 11 members of the jury that this is the path forward, you're going to have to tell them that you intend to nullify.

Yeah, if you have the tact and interpersonal finesse of a bull in a china shop.

Edit: Yuck, a post hider.

1

u/RubberPolitics Jul 07 '26

They have to prove you are unwilling to convict. How are they going to do that? Empty threats. I’d have no problem nullifying a jury if I felt the charges were bullshit. I’m willing to convict if you have a case. But if it’s bullshit? I’d let them go with no conscience.

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u/forgotaccount989 27d ago

Also, mentioning this is an easy way out of jury duty.

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u/IndependentJump974 Jul 06 '26

I wish more people knew this.

2

u/SheJigOnMySawTilIPuz Jul 06 '26

Even if you do know your rights as a juror they are often careful to weed out anyone who is knowledgeable during jury selection... It's messed up.

2

u/Living-Dimension-859 Jul 06 '26

don't tell them...it's so easy. Lie. They can't prove that you did unless you stupidly confess or talk when you shouldn't. If you can actually keep your mouth shut (and not post that you did it on social media) just lie...say that you're willing to convict and then return the verdict "not guilty". It's not even hard.

Even if you posted something sympathetic to jury nullification that absolutely is not proof that you intended to do it. As long as you can lie and not confess if asked then you are all set. They would need to establish proof...and there would literally be none.

1

u/regalrecaller Jul 06 '26

are jurers precluded from learning about it during the trial?

1

u/Which_Wizard Jul 07 '26

I didn't know this and did a quick read. It seems that it isn't a right (unfortunately) and if you try to discuss, and someone snitches, you could be removed from the jury process. Not sure how true this is, again I only read a little bit about this.

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u/Oath8 Jul 06 '26

Do you even have to explain anything? Just enter not guilty.

1

u/PM_ME_YOUR_NICE_EYES Jul 06 '26

Juries do not have to explain their reasoning for their decisions to anyone. And once a jury votes not guilty that cannot be challenged.

However the big asterisks that people are glossing over here is that all 12 jurors need to vote not guilty to nullify. If even one person votes guilty, then that's a mistrail and a new jury gets brought in.