keep the fight for jury rights alive


To view this email online, paste this link into your browser:
[link removed]





([link removed])

Dear John,

On September 18th of 1850, Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act, forcing authorities in free states to arrest suspected escaped slaves on little more than sworn testimony. Massive fines were to be imposed on any official that abided the amnesty laws in free states, and anyone aiding a fugitive was subject to imprisonment. Since the law provided no due process or a trial for those targeted, many free blacks would be kidnapped and enslaved for the first time.

In response, the great libertarian Lysander Spooner was defiant, writing in A Defense For Fugitive Slaves, that widespread resistance would be hard to stop and, "There is a probability that a grand jury will not indict, for it is not their duty to do so, if they think the law, that has been resisted, is unconstitutional."

Over the last month, there's been a slew of reporting about "grand jury nullification" after jurors consistently refused to indict protesters against the military occupation DC. Most notably, a grand jury refused to bring charges of assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal officer against a man who flung a sub sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection agent. ([link removed])

Putting aside whether such refusals to indict constitute jury nullification or just a recognition of factual innocence, this wave of interest in the right to nullify is surely positive, and FIJA has been proud to answer questions and serve as a resource. We've launched a redesigned website ([link removed]), organized pamphleting in numerous states for Jury Rights Day, and designed a new brochure ([link removed]) that gives more information on how grand jurors can resist prosecutors.

But FIJA is not financed by big billionaires or NGOs. Since 1989 we have depended upon a network of small donors like you. After the passing of Kirsten Tynan in March of 2024, FIJA has a lot of ground to recover.

We need your help to stay around! ([link removed])

FIJA's basic operating expenses are currently not being covered by donations. But if every person who has donated to us in the past gave just $10, it would preserve our library of resources on jury nullification and help us actively spread Spooner's message.

Donate now ([link removed])

For Liberty, Justice, and Peace in Our Lifetimes,

Will Gillis

Executive Director

Fully Informed Jury Association





7090 N Oracle Rd Ste 178-310 | Tucson, AZ 85704 US

This email was sent to [email protected].
To ensure that you continue receiving our emails,
please add us to your address book or safe list.

manage your preferences ([link removed])
opt out ([link removed]) using TrueRemove(r).

Got this as a forward? Sign up ([link removed]) to receive our future emails.