Jurors must do what they believe is right

I find it amazing that the government can enforce minimum wage laws on private businesses, but can ignore it when it comes to government employment.

It is bad enough that the government coerces people to serve on a jury, then turns around and pays them a measly $5 a day (“Jury Duty System Evolves, Examiner, Oct. 1). What happened to the minimum wage laws?

Serving on a jury can be satisfying if you do not like bad laws such as victimless crime laws. A juror can implement jury nullification. You can cast your not guilty vote if you find fault in an unjust law. Jury nullification has been practiced for hundreds of years and was used against fugitive slave laws. Yes, slavery was legal in this country. At one time, prohibition against alcohol was the law.

Another example of changing laws is the legality of abortion. Abortion was illegal, then legal, and in the future might be illegal again. Politicians make up the law. A juror must do what is right. The most fundamental right is freedom and justice.

Fred Stein
South Brunswick