Fully Informed Jury Association » Lunch Break for Liberty

Freedom Friday- Lunch Break for Liberty

FIJA — Fri, 27 May 2011 09:00:41 +0000

This week Maine Freedom Watchdogs presents a video explaining how the people’s branch of government- the jury- can veto laws, just as the other three branches of government can. Please take a minute at lunchtime today to pass this short video on to family and friends!

If you would like to recommend a jury-related video for Freedom Friday, let us know in the FIJA forum or by sending an e-mail to us at aji(at)fija.org/aie653l. And don’t forget that you can win cash and other prizes and have your own video featured on Freedom Friday by entering our Justice Through Jurors video contest. Details are right here.

Freedom Friday- Lunch Break for Liberty

FIJA — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:08:16 +0000

In this week’s Freedom Friday, Phil Mocek discusses his court victory in which a jury delivered a resounding No! to harassment of citizens by government agents enforcing their personal whims rather than the law. We posted about his case here.

FIJA spoke with Mocek regarding his jury’s role in protecting him from government agents who perjured themselves on the stand after deleting evidence from his video camera contradicting their stories. Thankfully, Phil was able to recover the evidence, and his jury did a great job of protecting all of our rights in the process of protecting Phil’s. Please take a few minutes today to pass this along to family and friends!

Freedom Friday- Lunch Break for Liberty

FIJA — Fri, 13 May 2011 09:00:32 +0000

This week’s Freedom Friday features a very short cartoon explaining the history and power of jury nullification. Please take a few minutes today to pass this along to family and friends!

Freedom Friday- Lunch Break for Liberty Online

FIJA — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 09:00:07 +0000

In this week’s Freedom Friday video, we share with you a brief talk given by a FIJA activist before the Liberty Toastmasters in Colorado:

Freedom Friday- Lunch Break for Liberty

FIJA — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 09:00:26 +0000

This week’s Freedom Friday video shines a bright light on the jury selection process from a prosecuting attorney. In this excerpt from a 1980′s training video for prosecutors, then Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney Jack McMahon explains that the prosecution isn’t concerned with justice, but rather with winning the case. Based on this, he encourages prosecutors to exclude blacks, the poor, and smart people from juries. He even gives tips on how to disguise their ill intentions when challenged by the judge or the defense on their jury stacking efforts. For the full, uncut video, click here.

Freedom Friday- Lunch Break for Liberty

FIJA — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:00:11 +0000

In this week’s Freedom Friday video, listen to a short clip from British television series Rumpole of the Bailey in which jurors are reminded that their primary concern is with delivering justice, even if in contradiction to the law.

Freedom Friday- Lunch Break for Liberty Online

FIJA — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:00:41 +0000

In this week’s very brief Freedom Friday video, an outreach activist shows how easy it is to distribute literature that might one day save someone’s life by fully informing someone of their right not to convict based on their conscience. Be polite and friendly when you are handing out literature to make a good impression on those to whom you are handing it. Hand it directly to the person you are delivering it to, and deliver a clear and brief comment regarding what the brochure is about. This helps draw their attention to what you are giving them and encourages them to open it up and read it.

Freedom Friday- Lunch Break for Liberty Online

FIJA — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 09:00:00 +0000

This week’s Freedom Friday video features a brief explanation of jury nullification and a mention of the Citizens Rule Book. If you would like your own copy of the Citizens Rule Book, you can order it from our Media Catalog.

If you would like to recommend a jury-related video for Freedom Friday, let us know in the FIJA forum or by sending an e-mail to us at aji(at)fija.org/aie653l.

Freedom Friday: Lunch Break for Liberty

FIJA — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:00:44 +0000

We know that some potential activists may be concerned about encounters with law enforcement while distributing FIJA literature near courthouses. Thousands of activists over the years have distributed FIJA literature near courthouses without any legal issues. We do not want FIJA activists getting arrested because it detracts from our mission which is to educate all potential jurors about their rights and responsibilities when serving on a jury.

This week’s Freedom Friday video features FreeKeene.com activists in Cheshire County, NH peacefully asserting their right to distribute FIJA literature while gracefully but assertively avoiding a legal situation.

Being jailed virtually end one’s ability to reach jurors for the duration of one’s imprisonment. Activists getting arrested have also been cited by many other potential activists as reasons they have been dissuaded from handing out literature. This is counterproductive to FIJA’s mission of educating as many potential jurors as possible. Therefore, FIJA’s policy is for activists to avoid getting arrested and instead challenge any violations of their right to distribute literature by other means.

FIJA does not provide legal advice, nor do we have resources for your legal defense should you get arrested. When we are distributing literature and are confronted by law enforcement, we do our best to defuse the situation peacefully rather than escalating the confrontation.

If told to leave the place we are handing out brochures, we may ask the officer, “Where am I allowed to stand?” If the officer will not point out a specific location, we may ask about a specific location. For example, “Do you have any objection if I stand (across the street, over there, etc.)?”

We may ask the officer “I’m willing to leave, but can you please tell me what law or statute you are enforcing because I believe it violates my First Amendment rights?” Before we leave, we may ask, “May I have your name and employee identification number? If I decide to challenge this, I may want to call you as a witness.”

For more of our observations on what has traditionally worked for our activists who distribute brochures near courthouses, we encourage you to read our flyer on Handing Out FIJA Literature Near Courthouses (pdf).

If you would like to recommend a jury-related video for Freedom Friday, let us know in the FIJA forum or by sending an e-mail to us at aji(at)fija.org/aie653l.

Freedom Friday: Lunch Break for Liberty

FIJA — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:00:50 +0000

You may be hearing a lot these days about states nullifying federal law. But did you know that you have the power to nullify any unjust law or regulation imposed by any government entity or agent when you serve as an independent juror? This week’s video from Maine Freedom Watchdogs explains the purpose and power of an individual juror in protecting our liberty:

If you would like to recommend a jury-related video for Freedom Friday, let us know in the FIJA forum or by sending an e-mail to us at aji(at)fija.org/aie653l.

Freedom Friday: Lunch Break for Liberty

FIJA — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 09:00:01 +0000

This week we feature a clip from the classic western The Ox-Bow Incident based on the novel of the same name written by Walter Van Tilburg Clark. In this clip, Gil Carter, played by Henry Fonda, reads a letter by a victim of mob rule written to his wife. This letter emphasizes the importance of conscience in delivering justice, and explains that conscience is a higher form of law encompassing written law. Remember that when you serve on a jury, it is your responsibility to use your conscience to deliver justice even when justice is not served by upholding the letter of the law.

If you would like to recommend a jury-related video for Freedom Friday, let us know in the FIJA forum or by sending an e-mail to us at aji(at)fija.org/aie653l.

Freedom Friday: Lunch Break for Liberty

FIJA — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 09:00:11 +0000

This week’s Freedom Friday video features a video from Creative Underground documenting Craig Toth’s and Scott Kuehne’s juror education efforts near a Fort Lauderdale, FL gun show. This is a good video to pass along to your hard-rocking and gun-friendly friends introducing them to jury nullification. (If you’re listening at work, you might want to consider listening with headphones or lowering the volume a little bit due to loud music.)

We invite you to take a moment during your lunch break today to distribute the link to this blog post to your friends and family via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, etc. If you would like to recommend a jury-related video for Freedom Friday, let us know in the FIJA forum or by sending an e-mail to us at aji(at)fija.org/aie653l.

Freedom Friday: FIJA Response on WFTV to Judge Perry’s Unlawful Order

FIJA — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 07:00:16 +0000

This week’s Freedom Friday video features FIJA Florida representative James Cox on Orlando’s WFTV news discussing the unlawful order issued by Judge Blevin Perry, Jr. a few days ago stifling freedom of speech. According to the news report, Judge Perry says that our outreach efforts in the area have been effective! Please post the following video to your blogs, Facebook pages, Twitter, etc. and invite others to join our efforts to have this unlawful administrative order rescinded.

FIJA’s True or False brochure (pdf) was shown twice in the two-minute segment. The judge issued an order to try and squash this information from getting to jurors, but instead his order has led to it being featured on Orlando news.

Freedom Friday: Lunch Break for Liberty

FIJA — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 09:00:01 +0000

This week FIJA activist Skip Robinson, who is involved in our Florida campaign, discusses the importance of jury nullification in delivering justice to defendants who have harmed nobody.

Skip encourages you to take an hour a month, an hour a week, or whatever you can to educate potential jurors about their right to vote Not Guilty if the defendant is prosecuted under a bad law. We invite you to take a moment during your lunch break today to distribute the link to this blog post to your friends and family via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

If you would like to recommend a jury-related video for Freedom Friday, let us know in the FIJA forum or by sending an e-mail to us at aji(at)fija.org/aie653l.

Freedom Friday: Lunch Break for Liberty

FIJA — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 09:00:54 +0000

Update 4/18/2011: The video linked below has been made private by the owner but you can still find out what you can do as a juror by clicking the links in the post below.

In this week’s Freedom Friday video, Cindy Franklin discusses how to get on a jury. This approximately 5 minute video includes a number of tips on what might lead a judge, prosecutor, or defender to exclude you from a jury. Remember- you must get onto the jury before you can exercise your right to nullify bad law! If you are called for jury or know someone who is, keep in mind FIJA’s handy brochure entitled Surviving Voir Dire: How to Get on a Jury (pdf), which you can download free from our online Library or order from our Media Catalog.

Freedom Friday: Lunch Break for Liberty

FIJA — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 09:00:37 +0000

In this week’s Freedom Friday video, FIJA Director Iloilo Jones discusses the right and responsibility of jurors to consult their consciences in rendering a verdict.

Reporting For Jury Duty: Jury Service During The Trial

Freedom Friday: Lunch Break for Liberty

FIJA — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 09:00:31 +0000

We kick off 2011 with our first Freedom Friday video of the year featuring a poetic reminder from poet Taylor Mali about speaking with conviction. Keep in mind this year as you are educating your family, friends, or neighbors about the power of the jury, to speak with the confidence of your convictions.

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

Freedom Friday: Lunch Break for Liberty Online

FIJA — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 09:00:25 +0000

This week’s Freedom Friday video features a recipient of one of FIJA’s pamphlets discussing the usefulness of its content. The video was taken as a part of our current campaign in Florida. For more information on activism in Florida and to coordinate your efforts with others in the area, you can visit the Florida FIJA website.

We invite you to take a moment during your lunch break today to distribute the link to this blog post to your friends and family via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, etc. If you would like to recommend a jury-related video for promotion on Freedom Friday, let us know in the FIJA forum or by sending an e-mail to us at aji(at)fija.org/aie653l.

Freedom Friday: Lunch Break for Liberty Online

FIJA — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 09:00:18 +0000

This week we present the trailer for Conviction, a recently released feature length film based on the true story of Kenny Waters who served 18 years in prison for murder he didn’t commit before DNA testing proved his innocence. His sister, Betty Anne Waters, put herself through college and law school in order to help with her brother’s case.

Kenny Waters was convicted, in spite of a strong alibi and lack of physical evidence connecting him to the crime, largely on the basis of the testimony of witnesses who had been threatened with arrest by police if they refused to implicate Waters. Exculpatory evidence in the form of fingerprints collected by police at the scene of the crime which excluded Waters as a suspect were not provided to the defense for use during the trial. More evidence in the form of Waters’ work time card which verified his alibi was lost and not used in the initial trial.

Sadly, Waters passed away six months after his release. He was 47 years old and had spent more than a third of his life in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Please remember that your service as a fully informed juror who understands how the system is stacked in favor of the prosecution may be the only thing standing between an innocent defendant and life in prison.

Please also consider that one day, that innocent defendant may be you. Will you have fully informed jurors protecting you from abuse from government prosecutors and law enforcement looking to chalk up another win?

Conviction is currently open in theaters across the United States and Canada. We encourage you to see it with friends and family to remind them why service as a fully informed juror is so important.

We invite you to take a moment during your lunch break today to distribute the link to this blog post to your friends and family via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, etc. If you would like to recommend a jury-related video for promotion on Freedom Friday, let us know in the FIJA forum or by sending an e-mail to us at aji(at)fija.org/aie653l.

Freedom Friday: Lunch Break for Liberty Online

FIJA — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 09:00:25 +0000

This week we present the trailer for The Independent Jury, a feature length film in development and being produced by Declaration Pictures, LLC. When a drug possession trial goes into deliberations in Houston, Texas, one sympathetic juror fights to prevent an almost certain conviction of an AIDS patient for using medical marijuana, because she believes the law to be immoral.

We invite you to take a moment during your lunch break today to distribute the link to this blog post to your friends and family via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, etc. If you would like to recommend a jury-related video for promotion on Freedom Friday, let us know in the FIJA forum or by sending an e-mail to us at aji(at)fija.org/aie653l.

Freedom Friday: Lunch Break for Liberty Online

FIJA — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 09:00:29 +0000

In this week’s featured video, laskerfan12 explains how we can use our authority as jurors to stand up for our neighbors who are exercising their Second Amendment rights. This is a great video by which to educate your family and friends who are supporters of gun rights.

We invite you to take a moment during your lunch break today to distribute the link to this blog post to your friends and family via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, etc. If you would like to recommend a jury-related video for promotion on Freedom Friday, let us know in the FIJA forum or by sending an e-mail to us at aji(at)fija.org/aie653l.

Freedom Friday: Lunch Break for Liberty Online

FIJA — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 09:00:06 +0000

It is each and every juror’s right and responsibility to render a verdict according to his or her conscience. This right has been used powerfully through history by jurors who have refused to convict their neighbors when they have broken unjust laws. In this week’s featured video, Maine Freedom Watchdogs explain how we, as jurors, can refuse to harm our neighbors still today by refusing to convict them under unjust laws.

We invite you to take a moment during your lunch break today to distribute the link to this blog post to your friends and family via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, etc. If you would like to recommend a jury-related video for promotion on Freedom Friday, let us know in the FIJA forum or by sending an e-mail to us at aji(at)fija.org/aie653l.

Freedom Friday: Lunch Break for Liberty Online

FIJA — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 09:00:49 +0000

Are you or is someone you know outside of the United States? Jury nullification is a powerful tool around the world. This week’s Freedom Friday video features a brief two-and-a-half minute clip from British television series Rumpole of the Bailey. This short excerpt is a great reminder that it is not only a juror’s right, but also responsibility, to put justice above the law- no matter where they live.

We invite you to take a moment during your lunch break today to distribute the link to this blog post to your friends and family via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, etc. If you would like to recommend a jury-related video for promotion on Freedom Friday, let us know in the FIJA forum or by sending an e-mail to us at aji(at)fija.org/aie653l.

Freedom Friday: Lunch Break for Liberty Online

FIJA — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:00:11 +0000

This week’s Freedom Friday video features a roughly ten minute discussion regarding the ultimate arbiter of the Constitution: the jury.

We invite you to take a moment during your lunch break today to distribute the link to this blog post to your friends and family via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, etc. If you would like to recommend a jury-related video for promotion on Freedom Friday, let us know in the FIJA forum or by sending an e-mail to us at aji(at)fija.org/aie653l.

Freedom Friday: Lunch Break for Liberty Online

FIJA — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:00:32 +0000

This Sunday, 5 September, is Jury Rights Day. This week’s Freedom Friday videos feature a quick look at some past Jury Rights Day outreach efforts. We encourage you to record your Jury Rights Day events and post them so that your message continues on well into the future and far beyond your locale. If you do post a video, be sure to let us know!

We invite you to take a moment during your lunch break today to distribute the link to this blog post to your friends and family via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, etc. If you would like to recommend a jury-related video for promotion on Freedom Friday, let us know in the FIJA forum or by sending an e-mail to us at aji(at)fija.org/aie653l.