He may acquit or pardon, notwithstanding their sentence or judgment; but he cannot punish, except according to their judgment.
Lysander Spooner: “He may acquit or pardon, notwithstanding their sentence or judgment; but he cannot punish, except according to their…”
Editor's note · Context
This statement reiterates that a king may acquit or pardon but cannot punish beyond the jury's judgment.
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One answer is, that this power, which juries have of judging of the law, is not a power of absolute decision in all cases.
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