Citizens Rule Book
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Citizens Rule Book is an anonymously written short manual about the rights of juries in the United States. The author of the Rule Book argues that jurors have the right to nullify a trial if the jury members disagree with the law of which a defendant has been accused. The book is popular among tax protesters and members of the Christian Patriot movement.
Contents |
[edit] Contents
The Citizens Rule Book is divided into three sections. The first section deals with the rights of juries, the second section discusses the alleged views of American founders regarding jury trials, and the third section summarizes important founding documents of the United States.
[edit] Section 1: A Handbook for Jurors
The Citizens Rule Book argues that jurors are "above the law" and may nullify any law with which they disagree. It claims that a citizen's power comes directly from God, therefore jurors are not beholden to decisions made by judges or other government agents. According to the book, "each JUROR has MORE POWER than the President, all of Congress, and all of the judges combined!"[1]
By issuing a verdict of "not guilty", even against the wishes of all other jurors, a single juror may "hang" a trial, resulting in a mistrial. The Rule Book advocates the use of this tactic to overturn cases in which a person is guilty of a crime, but the juror feels that the law in question is unconstitutional.
This section also includes an argument that the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights are based on the Biblical Ten Commandments. In contrast, "many of the planks of the Communist Manifesto are now represented by law in the U.S."[2]
[edit] Section 2: Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!
In this section, the Citizens Rule Book argues that the founders of the United States believed all juries should be composed of people who personally know the accused. It quotes Patrick Henry, Representative John Holmes, and Declaration of Independence signatory James Wilson to the effect that jurors should be familiar with the "character" of the defendant on trial.
The Rule Book cites Bushel's Case as a classic example of a jury overriding a judge's ruling. In the case, two Quakers, William Penn and William Mead were tried for unlawful assembly in a challenge to the Conventicle Act, a law that restricted religious practices. The jury refused to convict the men, but the judge would not accept their ruling. Juror Edward Bushel refused to pay a fine levied by the judge. A higher court later ruled that the judge was wrong to overturn the acquittal.
[edit] Section 3: Index to the Original Documents
In this section, the Citizens Rule Book provides summaries and commentaries on three important founding documents of the United States: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
[edit] Popularity
The Southern Poverty Law Center claims that the Citizens Rule Book is popular among "antigovernment 'Patriots'".[3] It is sold online by companies that cater to tax protesters and Christian Patriots, such as the Patriot Network, as well as by Young Earth Creationist Kent Hovind.
