Michigan State Police
Post # 86

Dickinson County
Sheriff's Department

Kingsford
Public Safety Department

City of Iron Mountain
Police Department

This is an independent web site and is not affiliated with any law enforcement agency in any way.
The opinions on the comment board are those of the writer and not the editors of this web site.

There seems to be a lot of controversy about the law enforcement agencys in Dickinson County.  This web site will give the citizens of Dickinson County an opportunity to give praise where praise is due, or air their gripes if they feel they have been mistreated. You may also comment on any other subject..

Michigan DNR
Norway Field Office

City of Norway
Police Department

"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" - "Who watches the watchmen?"

What happened to the days when a police officer was looked upon as a friend, someone to turn to when you had a problem? They earned respect out of helpfulness and friendship not fear and control. Today they instill fear and are a person to be avoided whenever possible. When was the last time you saw a police officer stop and just ask the kids how they are doing and maybe shooting a couple of baskets with them, thus earning their friendship and respect. You can't come on like a tough guy all the time waiting for people to make a mistake, a little friendship and understanding goes a long way. If you treat our young people with respect, you might be surprised what you will get in return. This site is not meant to be a police hate site, it just allows the citizens of Dickinson County to comment on and rate our public servants. I would love to see a 100% excellent rating on our law enforcement agency's. That would show they are doing the job we are paying them for.

THE JURY ACTS AS THE FOURTH BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT

ABOUT JURY RIGHTS

"Jury Nullification" is the way people can express opposition to an unpopular legislative enactment. Judges used to inform Juries of their rights till 1895 (Sparf vs. U.S.) Now Judges in New Hampshire, Maryland and Indiana are required to inform Juries of their rights.

Jury Rights can be described as the right to:

  • conclude the defendant did not commit a crime even though he/she broke the law
  • the right to question if the law was applied correctly, or is unfair and should not be enforced
  • the right not to be punished for their verdict

Learn how to use your Jury votes to control your government.
We The People control the law, the Grand Jury, and the Trial Jury were put in the system as separate powers, they are the check against all the others. The Trial Check is the most important check and the final check in the system of checks and balances. The jury's vote is the most important check against bad laws of politicians, and judges who have been corrupted.

The right of "Jury Nullification of Bad Law" is the ultimate right of the people to control their government. The underlying common law concepts firmly establish the fact that Jurors cannot be punished for their verdict. As well, jurors are not required to give a reason for the verdict they render. The fundamental right of Jurors to render their verdict based on conscience, individual sense of justice, and human duty, is basic to the preservation of Justice, and to our Lawful Society.
How To Apply Your Jury Rights

If you are a potential juror going through voir dire (when the lawyers and judge are deciding if they want you on the jury panel or not) you will get asked by the judge "Do you have a problem accepting the instructions of the judge as to the law in the case?"

When the judge asked the "instructions" question, you should reply "I believe that jurors have the right to judge the law as well as the facts of a case. And tell the judge  if you think the law is unjust, frivolous or absurd you have to vote your conscience. If the court instructs the jury to convict. The Jury can tell the Judge no.

The jury system was established because it was felt that a panel of citizens, drawn at random from the community, and serving for too short a time to be corrupted, would be more likely to render a just verdict, through judging both the evidence and the law, than officials who may be unduly influenced to follow established legal practice, especially when that practice has drifted from its constitutional origins.
A member of the jury can hang a jury by saying the government prosecutor failed to prove the government's case. A juror doesn't have to explain why. A juror can state no reason for their verdict and it is the juror's right to do so.
Jury nullification is an act of a jury (its verdict) intended to make an official rule, especially a statute, void in the context of a particular case. In other words, "the process whereby a jury in a criminal case effectively nullifies a law by acquitting a defendant regardless of the weight of evidence against him or her."

Jury nullification is more specifically any rendering of a verdict by a trial jury, acquitting a criminal defendant despite the defendant's violation of the letter of the law, that is, of an official rule, especially a legislative enactment.

This verdict need not disagree with the instructions by the judge concerning what the law is, but may disagree with an instruction, if given by the judge, that the jury is required to apply the "law" to the defendant if certain facts are found.

Although a jury's refusal relates only to the particular case before it, if a pattern of such verdicts develops in response to repeated attempts to prosecute a statutory offense, it can have the practical effect of disabling the enforcement of the statute.

"Jury nullification" is thus a means for the people to express opposition to an unpopular legislative enactment.

Jury nullification is a reminder that the right to trial by one's peers affords the public an opportunity to take a dissenting view about the justness of a statute or official practices.

Judges and Lawyers won't tell you about The Principle of Jury Nullification.
Jurors have the right to judge the law as well as the facts of a case.

Believe it or not, the law is still in the hands of the people. With your judical powers, you can make a difference and force the laws you don't agree with to be changed. It is time for citizens as a whole to work together, hold meetings and do something instead of just griping. For example take Michigan's DWI laws. Don't get me wrong I don't think we should allow intoxicated drivers on the roads, but it is getting carried to extreme as a source of revenue and control. When it started the legal alcohol limit was .15 which would be 3 or 4 drinks and probably time to call a cab.  now they have it down to .08, where as our government is making criminals out of a person that takes his wife out to dinner and has a drink. The point I am trying to make is that as a people with the power of Jury Nullification could refuse to convict anyone with a blood alcohol content of  below .15 and force the law to be changed. We will be coming out with more information and links on this subject. In the mean time I strongly suggest you run a Google search on Jury Nullification and learn about the powers you still have.

JURY NULLIFICATION