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> With such a broad law, the second jury didn't have much of a choice, and it convicted him

The jury always has a choice: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification

Few juries know this. Fewer still have the courage to apply it.

I'm not convinced that courage has much to do with it, but rather an understanding on the part of a jury of their duty and function in the legal process. Nor am I convinced that the concept of nullification should be more widely known, and have no reason to believe that if it were, say, a legally-protected right, that it would do more good than harm.

Jury nullification is technically not a choice. It's just an inevitable flaw in the design of the judicial system...sort of like Neo in the Matrix (sequels).

On the other hand, it can be seen as a check on the balance of the executive police powers (specifically, the enforcement powers), which are not otherwise subject to political control.

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