HB 1236 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
29march00.....3907h
2000 SESSION
09/01
HOUSE BILL 1236
AN ACT relative to an informed jury.
SPONSORS: Rep. Marple, Merr 11; Rep. Welch, Rock 18; Rep. R. Nowe, Rock 3; Rep. Alger, Graf 9; Rep. Rose, Ches 13; Sen. Roberge, Dist 9
This bill states that a criminal defendant has a right to make a request that the court instruct the jury of its inherent right to judge the law and the facts in controversy and to nullify.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
29march00.....3907h
00-2213
09/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand
AN ACT relative to an informed jury.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Findings and Intent. Under the decisions of both the New Hampshire supreme court and the United States supreme court, the jury has an undeniable right to judge both the law and the facts in controversy. The jury system functions at its best when it is fully informed of these prerogatives. The general court wishes to perpetuate and reiterate the rights of the jury, as ordained under common law and recognized in the American jurisprudence, while preserving the rights of a criminal defendant.
2 New Section; Right of Accused; Jury Instruction. Amend RSA 519 by inserting after section 23 the following new section:
519:23-a Right of Accused. In all criminal proceedings, where the defendant has made a timely request, the court shall instruct the jury of its inherent right to judge the law as well as the facts and to nullify.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2001.