Bill > H1544

This bill proposes to amend Chapter 234 of the General Laws by adding a new section that would allow defendants in criminal proceedings to inform the jury of their right to judge the facts and how the law applies to those facts, specifically by providing a "nullification instruction." This instruction would also inform jurors that they have the right to refuse to enforce laws that are considered unjust or unfairly applied, a concept known as jury nullification, which is the power of a jury to acquit a defendant even if they believe the defendant is guilty of the crime, based on their moral or legal objections to the law itself.