But we have additional evidence that, up to the time of Magna Carta, the laws of the king were not binding upon the judicial tribunals; and if they were not binding before that time, they certainly were not afterwards, as has already been shown from Magna Carta itself.
Spooner provides evidence that the king's laws were not binding on judicial tribunals even before the Magna Carta.
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From the sale of that justice which every citizen has a right to demand, it was an easy transition to withhold or deny it.
One answer is, that this power, which juries have of judging of the law, is not a power of absolute decision in all cases.
But there is no reason why a judge should have the power of punishing, for contempt, any more than for any other offence.
It was simply, that they would neither convict the innocent, nor acquit the guilty.