By Kat Kanning

Manchester resident Dave Ridley aka The Juror's Rights Wookiee came out to the Manchester District Court early Tuesday to hand out information from FIJA.org to passersby.

FIJA- the Fully Informed Jury Association mission is stated on their website as “...to educate Americans regarding their full powers as jurors, including their ability to rely on personal conscience, to judge the merit of the law and its application, and to nullify bad law, when necessary for justice, by finding for the defendant.” Jurors may base their decision not only on the facts of the case, but can decide to let the defendant off if they believe the law itself is unjust. For example, a juror could hear a drug possession case. It could be clear from the evidence that the defendant did indeed possess drugs. But the jury can decide that the law against possession of drugs is a bad law, and find the defendant not guilty. This is known as Jury Nullification of the law – the law become null if no jury will convict a person under that law.

The Juror's Rights Wookiee plans to demonstrate outside area courthouses about every two weeks in order to provide information on juror's rights.

For more information on jury nullification, please contact former State Representative Dick Marple Phone: 603-627-1837
armlaw@hotmail.com