Abortion Protest

[Michael MASINTER]

On Sun, 19 Jan 1997, Douglas Laycock wrote:

>         The story about the abortion protest acquittals is also in Sunday's
> New York Times, but still without sufficient information to figure out what
> he said.  My best guess is that the judge apparently found a case that
> suggests that religious motivation negates criminal intent.
>

        I read the story, and saw what I took to be a reference to jury
nullification, applied by a judge who does not like the law under which
the defendant was prosecuted (presumably FACE or Roe, not the criminal
contempt statute).

        Lack of criminal intent should also defeat a homicide prosecution.
Didn't work in Florida for Paul Hill.  Maybe he should hire the judge.

Michael R. Masinter                     3305 College Avenue
Nova Southeastern University            Fort Lauderdale, Fl. 33314
Shepard Broad Law Center                (954) 452-6151
masinter at law.acast.nova.edu