4 ms·

Slavery wasn't a crime. And the slaves were property, not allowed trial by jury. Stopping the punishment of crimes is not halting all injustice.

• mannerheim 4y ago
  Helping slaves escape was a crime (Fugitive Slave Act) and an early use of jury nullification.
• RC_ITR 4y ago
  > Slavery wasn't a crime. Slavery was 100% enabled by the fact that escaping from slavery was a crime.
  • eru 4y ago
    Yes, but keeping someone enslaved was not a crime by the laws of that time and place.
    • RC_ITR 4y ago
      Yes, but how would jury nullification come into play there? A jury can’t decide to make something a crime, they can only choose to not punish a crime.
      • eru 4y ago
        Yes. And whether or how jury nullification comes in depends on circumstances.