This consideration is sufficient, of itself, to prove that the laws of the king were of no authority over a jury, in either civil or criminal cases, unless the juries regarded the laws as just in themselves.
Spooner argues that juries must view the king's laws as just for them to hold any authority over their decisions.
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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.
What else than ignorance of the law is it that excuses persons under the years of discretion, and men of imbecile minds?
And he can rightfully be held to no greater knowledge of the law than this.
The people are no more arrayed against themselves, when a jury puts its veto upon a statute, which the other tribunals have sanctioned, than they are when the same veto is exercised by the representatives, the senate, the executive, or the…