What is a jury nullification?

Jury nullification is a legal principle that allows a jury to acquit a defendant, despite the evidence pointing to guilt, if they feel the law in question is either unjust or inappropriate in the particular situation being judged. Jury nullification is a controversial practice, as it allows the jury to ignore the instructions provided by the judge, meaning the case does not receive a fair trial in the eyes of the law. In Hawaii, like all across the United States, jurors are required to base their verdict solely on the facts presented in a court of law. However, jury nullification allows jurors to go beyond the facts to consider how a decision could affect the accused and their community. In this way, it gives the jury the power to judge by their own morals and values, rather than the court’s. Jury nullification has some supporters in Hawaii, but is mostly opposed by the legal system as it hinders the justice system as a whole and undermines the rule of law. The practice has been used in the past to acquit those accused of violating unpopular laws, such as those related to drugs or civil rights. For instance, juries have been known to acquit people charged with marijuana possession, despite the law stating otherwise. Therefore, jury nullification gives juries the power to ignore the rules of the court, setting their own standards of justice. Although it can have its positives, it is not generally accepted as it can be used to undermine the law.

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What is a jury nullification?

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