Jury Nullification at Legal Glossary

What is it? A decision by the jury to acquit a defendant who has violated a law that the jury believes is unjust or wrong. Jury nullification has always been an option for juries in England and the United States, although judges will prevent a defense lawyer from urging the jury to acquit on this basis. Nullification was evident during the Vietnam war (when selective service protesters were acquitted by juries opposed to the war) and currently appears in criminal cases when the jury disagrees with the punishment--for example, in three strikes cases when the jury realizes that conviction of a relatively minor offense will result in lifetime imprisonment.

Law Definition Added By: Alyssa

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