Jury nullification is when the jury in a criminal trial gives a verdict of not guilty even though they think a defendant has broken the law. The jury’s reasons may include the belief that the law itself is unjust, that the prosecutor has misapplied the law in the defendant’s case, that the punishment for breaking the law is too harsh, or general frustrations with the criminal justice system. Some juries have also refused to convict due to their own prejudices in favor of the defendant. Such verdicts are possible because a jury has an absolute right to return any verdict it chooses. Nullification is not an official part of criminal procedure, but is the logical consequence of two rules governing the systems in which it exists:
Jurors cannot be punished for passing an incorrect verdict.
In many jurisdictions, a defendant who is acquitted cannot be tried a second time for the same offense.
New York also specifically allows for Jury nullification in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.
That article is specifically about Libel cases, but isn’t necessarily limited to libel, and jury nullification isn’t prohibited anywhere else.
Additionally, jury nullification is the entire point of having juries made up from regular citizens instead of professional jurors who are experts in the law or panels of judges. A jury is the last line of defense against an unjust conviction.
Jurors cannot be punished for passing an incorrect verdict.
In many jurisdictions, a defendant who is acquitted cannot be tried a second time for the same offense.
Careful now, just saying this can apparently get you in trouble these days.
New York also specifically allows for Jury nullification in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.
That article is specifically about Libel cases, but isn’t necessarily limited to libel, and jury nullification isn’t prohibited anywhere else.
Additionally, jury nullification is the entire point of having juries made up from regular citizens instead of professional jurors who are experts in the law or panels of judges. A jury is the last line of defense against an unjust conviction.
Sorry to burst everyone’s bubble here, but jury nullification sounds pretty unlikely in New York in this particular case according to a NY defense attorney familiar with the type of jurors there: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-luigi-mangione-case-a-ny-defense-attorney-breaks-it-down/id1147092464?i=1000680245949