It is alleged that if juries are allowed to judge of the law, they decide the law absolutely; that their decision must necessarily stand, be it right or wrong; and that this power of absolute decision would be dangerous in their hands, by reason of their ignorance of the law.
Lysander Spooner: “It is alleged that if juries are allowed to judge of the law, they decide the law absolutely; that their decision must…”
Editor's note · Context
Spooner addresses concerns about juries having absolute power to decide the law, arguing against the fear of ignorance.
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That the legislation of the king was of no authority over a jury, is further proved by the oath taken by the kings at their coronation.
In this manner all unjust laws are established, and made operative against the rights of the people.
And whenever any number of men, calling themselves a government, do anything to another man, or to his property, which they had no right to do as individuals they thereby declare themselves trespassers, robbers, or murderers, according to…
There is no more absurdity in giving a jury a veto upon the laws, than there is in giving a veto to each of these other tribunals.