What is a jury nullification?

Jury nullification is a procedural defense that occurs when a jury reaches a verdict of acquittal even though they believe the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. In other words, jurors might reach a verdict of not guilty against the evidence. It occurs in court proceedings when a jury unanimously decides that a defendant is not guilty despite the evidence presented by the prosecution, or when a jury refuses to convict a defendant because the jurors find the law to be unjust or inappropriate. Jury nullification is a form of judicial discretion and is usually employed in Washington when the jurors find that there is some sort of injustice in the case and believe the law is too harsh or perhaps the punishment is unjust. For example, a jury might find that a defendant is guilty of a minor charge, yet decide to acquit the defendant because of the law’s harshness. Jury nullification can be a powerful tool for protecting people from overly harsh or unfair laws, but it can also be abused.

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What is a jury nullification?

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