Flipped on the radio on the way home from work on Thursday to hear the Bundy brothers and the rest had been acquitted on all charges. This is after assorted other defendants had individually taken plea deals a few months ago, on the same charges.
I’m thinking “jury nullification”. But people might find it interesting to read a synopsis of instructions to the jury. The requirements for finding the defendants guilty of the conspiracy charges were pretty strict.
There was a peculiar issue that came up on Wednesday when Juror A contacted the judge to complain that Juror B was acting in bad faith, failing to deliberate in an impartial manner, had admitted to be prejudiced against the defendants. Long story short, Juror B was removed and a substitute empaneled. And the acquittal came a few hours later.
I discussed the outcome with my neighbor, who made a peculiar comparison between the Bundy bunch and Occupy Portland, saying that the latter had gotten away with all sorts of stuff, damaged property etc., but never been prosecuted. He was also thinking jury nullification, but that that was a great thing.