JURY RIGHTS DAY: William Penn is found not guilty of violating the Conventicle Act, which makes it illegal to teach an interpretation of the Bible (Quaker) contrary to that authorized by the Anglican Church (Church of England).  Through Jury Nullification, the Jury suspends what they determine to be an unjust statute, rendering the facts to this case irrelevant.  This event begins the tradition of the Freedoms of Speech, Religion, and Assembly in England.  Trial by Jury is very important, as it is the only check on the Crown’s unbridled power given the fact that the government of England and Scotland have no written constitution.   This was the first instance of Jury Nullification in the Anglo-American tradition; there would be many more.

       NOTE: This was the beginning of our cherished Article I of Amendment.  No beaches had to be stormed; no bombs had to be dropped; no burning napalm had to be rained down upon innocent women or children; no nation had to be contaminated with radioactive dust from depleted uranium (U₂₃₈) artillery shells.   All it took was four—although only one is necessary—brave souls to stand up and tell the government, “No!” The Freedoms of Assembly, Religion and Speech are with us today because of Jury Nullification (The act of a fully informed Jury, empowered through self-knowledge, to judge the decrees and the evidence in question); and they will be with us as long as Juries are willing to protect them. 

       [restored 5/28/2021]