Jury Nullification, the Rule of Law, and the Limitations of Government

A friend by email recently ask me for a brief explanation of Jury Nullification.  I responded:

From my understanding, jury nullification finds its roots in the concept of the rule of law, a check and balance in the U.S. legal system against the rule of man presented by the judges. Sometimes, laws are unjust, and it takes the people to nullify unjust laws because the lawmakers, and judiciary, won't. Threatened by the idea of jury nullification, jurors are either not told they have the option, or they are instructed that jury nullification is not an option. Jury nullification, as a part of the rule of law, is a limitation on the authorities of government, and ultimately against governmental tyranny.

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