Readers of this blog know that the law has a long reach. Because of this, many Michigan residents find themselves facing criminal charges for acts that they did not know were wrong. When educated men and women serving as judges and attorneys tell you that you have done something wrong, it may be easy to fall into agreeable thinking. But this should not be the case, as law enforcement and prosecutors often over-step their bounds and falsely accuse individuals of committing a crime.
One Michigan man may be in such a situation after he was arrested for handing out jury rights fliers outside a Michigan courthouse. The 50 pamphlets that were handed out were aimed at educating the public about a juror’s right to vote according to their conscience. This means that jurors can vote to acquit an individual based on their belief that a law is wrongfully applied or is immoral. This vote can be the case even if the evidence shows that the defendant was guilty.
The man was arrested and charged with jury tampering and obstruction of justice. If convicted, he could face up to six years in prison and up to $11,000 in fines. His attorney, however, claims that this is a case of free speech, and that merely educating jurors is not a crime.
The law, though prominent in our society, is not always clear. This is why legal professionals stand ready to help individuals fight to show that they were not afoul of the law or that the law did not apply to their situation. With this in mind, those accused of an offense may want to discuss their legal options with a criminal defense attorney.
Source: WQAD, “Man faces criminal charges for passing out jury rights fliers in front of Michigan courthouse,” Shellie Nelson, Dec. 2, 2015
