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jury nullification
noun
: the acquitting of a defendant by a jury in disregard of the judge's instructions and contrary to the jury's findings of fact
Examples of jury nullification in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Why is jury nullification an appropriate remedy to criminal charges for protesting?
—Chester Eduardo Fernández, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2024
The prosecution agreed to the plea deal over concerns of jury nullification, because the boy was about two months away from turning 16 when the incident occurred, according to the Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 10 May 2024
Which sounds like an argument for jury nullification.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 31 July 2023
Shortly after his closing argument began, Brooks referenced jury nullification, which Opper objected to and Dorow struck from the record.
—Jim Riccioli, Journal Sentinel, 25 Oct. 2022
Joey Jackson, a defense lawyer and CNN legal analyst, raised the possibility of jury nullification.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN, 23 Dec. 2021
Thanks to a bit of jury nullification and some sharp legal work Hovind got off entirely, while Hansen was sentenced to eighteen months.
—Peter J Reilly, Forbes, 5 June 2021
One of the most famous cases of jury nullification occurred during the 1955 trial of two white men in Mississippi who were accused of murdering Emmett Till, a black teenager who had allegedly whistled at a white woman.
—John Blake, CNN, 5 Feb. 2020
The federal government eventually pressed charges, but at that point, jury nullification reared its ugly head.
—Nicole Hemmer, Vox, 18 May 2018
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Word History
First Known Use
1972, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of jury nullification was
in 1972
Dictionary Entries Near jury nullification
Cite this Entry
“Jury nullification.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jury%20nullification. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Legal Definition
jury nullification
noun
: the acquitting of a defendant by a jury in disregard of the judge's instructions and contrary to the jury's findings of fact
Note: Jury nullification is most likely to occur when a jury is sympathetic toward a defendant or regards the law under which the defendant is charged with disfavor. Except for a statutory requirement to the contrary, a jury does not have to be instructed on the possibility of jury nullification.
More from Merriam-Webster on jury nullification
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about jury nullification
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