keep them ignorant -- ElcomSoft Jury Asks for Law Text - judge refuses

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

------ Forwarded Message
From: Richard Forno <rforno () infowarrior org>
Date: Sat, 14 Dec 2002 10:17:47 -0500
To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: ElcomSoft Jury Asks for Law Text - judge refuses


Does anyone else find it disturbing when a jury asks for a copy of a law
it's being asked to interpret and pass judgement from, and the judge
refuses?

Granted, the jurists probably aren't legal scholars, but what's the problem
with giving them the law, after which they can ask questions of the judge?

Does't seem right to me, whether in practicality or on principle.

Rick
Infowarrior.org




ElcomSoft Jury Asks for Law Text
By Joanna Glasner

02:00 AM Dec. 14, 2002 PT

Jurors deliberating in the first trial in which a company stands accused of
criminal violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act did not reach a
verdict Friday. They did, however, seek further clarifications regarding the
law they are being asked to apply.

The jury asked U.S. District Court Judge Ronald Whyte for a full copy of the
DMCA to assist in their decision-making. But he declined to provide a copy
of the document, which is over 100 pages long.

Instead, Whyte said he would answer specific questions jurors had about
portions of the law they must consider in determining ElcomSoft's guilt or
innocence. The government brought its case against the Russian software firm
for creating and selling a program that illegally removes encryption on
Adobe eBooks.


< snip >

http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,56853,00.html


------ End of Forwarded Message

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