Often without realization Juries have the ultimate power in deciding what laws can/will be enforced, while the importance of the Jury selection process cannot be understated.
Unfortunately not all juries know what their powers are which is why a judge's instruction can be so damaging. I still recall that Saskatchewan case where the judge told the jury that acquittal isn't an option for that father who killed the daughter's drug dealing boyfriend and the jury didn't question why not. As it turned out they could have indeed found him not guilty. |