We recieved the following Fax from the Fully Informed Jury
Association (FIJA) 3/10/95.
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Press Release
Foe More Information, Call
Larry Dodge, Dallas, 241-367-0902     For Release: March 9,1995
                     JURY POWER BILL FILED
    Rep. John Amos Longoria (D-San Antonio) filed a bill this 
week which would allow any Texan accused of a crime to remind 
Jurors of their power to vote to acquit or reduce charges in 
cases where the evidence might be sufficient to convict as 
charged, but where they believe applying the law would produce an
injustice.
    HB 2514 would therefore enable defense attorneys to argue 
that their client acted morally, or at least without harming 
others, even if illegally. Currently, Texas law allows attorneys 
to motion the court to inform jurors about this traditional power
(mentioned in the Texas Constitution, Article I, Section 8), but 
it is rarely granted. Jurors are instead usually instructed that
they are to convict if there is enough evidence to do so, no 
matter what they think of the law, and whether of not they think 
applying it would produce justice.
    Proponents of the bill, most notably the Lone Star Fully 
Informed Jury Association (FIJA) argue the HB 2514 would enhance 
the ability of Texas courts to dispense justice, and would return
to ordinary citizens a traditional means of expressing public 
opinion on the laws of the state, thus improving the democratic 
process.
    According to Lone Star FIJA state coordinator Larry Dodge, 
52, of Dallas, another long-run benefit of HB 2514 would be 
keeping people the public feels are harmless out of prison, 
thereby creating space for dangerous convicts without having to 
build more prisons.
    "Still another benefit would be the ability of Texas citizens
to reject the application of various laws and mandates which they
find offensive, but which the federal government has pressured 
the Texas Legislature into passing. Assuming that things would go
the same way they have in times past, when juries were routinely 
told about their power in America's courts, public feedback on 
the law would reach all the way to Washington, DC, and both state
and federal law would soon more accurately reflect the will of 
the people. This in turn would encourage increased respect for 
the law", Dodge said.
    People curious about their power as jurors can learn what is 
and how to use it whether of not HB 2514 passes, Dodge says, by 
calling the toll-free information line provided by the 
FIJA National, a jury-rights educational association based in 
Montana: 1-800-TELL-JURY.
    OTHER LONE STAR FULLY INFORMED JURY ASSOCIATION CONTACTS:
         CLAY CONRAD, AUSTIN  512-326-5910
         TOM GLASS, HOUSTON   713-467-2989
         PAUL VELTE, AUSTIN   512-476-2299
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This is posted as information only Texans for Equal Justice
neither supports or opposes this legislation.
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   |            Â              |  "Justice, though due        |
   |       ÂÄÄÄÄéÄÄÄÄ         |   to the accused, is         |
   |       ³    ³    ³         |   due to the accuser also."  |
   |      ÄÁÄ   ³   ÄÁÄ        |                              |
   |            ³              |  - Chief Justice Rehnquist - |
   |           ÍÁÍ             |-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=|
   |                           | Texans for Equal Justice     |
   |        Justice,           |       P.O. Box 241           |
   |  the Guardian of Liberty  |     Willis, Texas  77378     |
   |                           |    or contact Joe Sager      |
   |                           |  1:106/3297@fidonet.org      |
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 þ TLX v4.10 þ Lawyers & hookers are both hired to get their clients off
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