“The trial was most notable for the way in which the court tried to bully the jury. When the jury did not come back with guilty verdicts, but a verdict that simply said ‘guilty of speaking to an assembly,’ the court refused to accept that outcome and ordered the jury to return to their deliberations. When the jury returned with a verdict that acquitted Mead of all charges, the court ordered the jury to prison! Next, the jurors filed a writ of habeas corpus challenging the legality of their imprisonment. Soon after, an important legal precedent was set for jury independence: jurors cannot be punished for voting their conscience.”
http://www.policemisconduct.net/today-jury-rights-day/
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