Would-Be Jurors Stage 'Mutiny' in Marijuana Case

Potential jurors staged a "mutiny" during a felony drug case, a Missoula County prosecutor says, and authorities worry the result will be viewed as a game-changer when it comes to future attempts at prosecuting drug cases in Montana.

Nearly all 27 Missoula County residents during the jury selection process on Thursday told District Court Judge Dusty Deschamps there was no way they would convict anybody of having a couple of buds of marijuana.

In the plea memorandum filed by Elison, he noted that public opinion "is not supportive of the state's marijuana law and appeared to prevent any conviction from being obtained simply because an unbiased jury did not appear available under any circumstances."

The potential jurors in the case ranged in ages from 20s to 60s, with one of the most vocal in her 60s.

Full Article Here

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202476471207&WouldBe_Jur...Would-Be Jurors Stage 'Mutiny' in Marijuana Case


Potential jurors staged a "mutiny" during a felony drug case, a Missoula County prosecutor says, and authorities worry the result will be viewed as a game-changer when it comes to future attempts at prosecuting drug cases in Montana.

Nearly all 27 Missoula County residents during the jury selection process on Thursday told District Court Judge Dusty Deschamps there was no way they would convict anybody of having a couple of buds of marijuana.

In the plea memorandum filed by Elison, he noted that public opinion "is not supportive of the state's marijuana law and appeared to prevent any conviction from being obtained simply because an unbiased jury did not appear available under any circumstances."

The potential jurors in the case ranged in ages from 20s to 60s, with one of the most vocal in her 60s.

Full Article Here

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202476471207&WouldBe_Jur...