The consequence is, that jurors must have the whole case in their hands, and judge of law, evidence, and sentence, or they incur the moral responsibility of accomplices in any injustice which they have reason to believe will be done by the government on the authority of their verdict.
Spooner insists that jurors must fully understand the case to avoid complicity in governmental injustices stemming from their verdicts.
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What else than ignorance of the law is it that excuses persons under the years of discretion, and men of imbecile minds?
One answer is, that this power, which juries have of judging of the law, is not a power of absolute decision in all cases.
It is also sheer impudence, on their part, to assume that their commands are at all necessary to teach other men what is, and what is not, justice.
All those who are not forbidden by law may be judges (jurors).