Judge Thomas A. Wiseman, Jr. Quote

“[T]o deny a defendant of the possibility of jury nullification would be to defeat the central purpose of the jury system.”

~ Judge Thomas A. Wiseman, Jr.
(1930-) American jurist, Senior United States District Court Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee
U.S. v. Datcher, 830 F. Supp. 411, 415 (M.D. Tenn., 1993) case dismissed Sept. 1, 1994, 6th Cir. Ct. Of Appeals, Case No. 3:92-00054 certiorari denied U.S. Supreme Court Case No. 94-8767, May 15, 1995.

Consitution , Jury , Rights , Security

Ratings and Comments


E Archer, NYC
  • Reply
E Archer, NYC    7/18/14

Absolutely. What really irks me is that as hard as it is for a case to go to trial (because most defendants plead to a lesser offence rather than face having the book thrown at them in court), is that the judge may ask the jury "Have you come to a unanimous decision?" And if they say they did not, then the judge declares a mistrial, and they can try the case again. While in fact, only a guilty verdict requires a unanimous decision -- anything else is "NOT GUILTY," period.

jim k, austin tx
  • Reply
jim k, austin tx    7/18/14

Thanks, E Archer.

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