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. . . that I should bear witness unto the truth. John 18:33 // David E. Robinson, Publisher
. . . if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for battle? I Corinthians 14:8
No.155
07/071/12
Maine Republic Free State News, 3 Linnell Circle, Brunswick, Maine 04011 http://maine-patriot.com
of the charge. Lou Ellen Wheeler, who served on the jury, later said that the evidence against him was weak. But as defense attorney Todd Dupont pointed out, other jurors made it clear they werent going to make somebody a felon and ruin their lives over a gram of cocaine. Prosecutor Julian Ramirez insisted that even though the amount involved was minuscule, possession of cocaine is a crime because Its the law. However, it is for the jury not the trial judge, and certainly not the prosecutor to define the law, even if this specific verdict merely reflected the poverty of a particular criminal case. This is at least the second time a conscientious jury has nullified a foolish drug prosecution. Two years ago a Montana jury refused to convict a man for marijuana possession. Hopefully this kind of principled rebellion will become a nationwide epidemic.
Maine Republic Free State News, 3 Linnell Circle, Brunswick, Maine 04011 http://maine-patriot.com