Nathan Lapp

Jurors should be allowed to nullify laws they believe are unfair and acquit defendants who have violated such laws, Nathan Lapp contends in the following viewpoint. According to Lapp, the right to nullification has a long history, dating back to the acquittals of William Penn and John Peter Zenger. However, he argues, many modern-day judges are unwilling to acknowledge the right of jurors to judge the law. Lapp maintains that jury nullification must again become an accepted right because of the indispensable and important role of jurors. Lapp is a freelance writer and coordinator of the New York Fully Informed Jury Association, an organization that seeks to inform Americans about their rights and responsibilities when serving as trial jurors.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Lapp, why did Thomas Jefferson endorse trial by...