2. Nov./Dec. Topic
Resolved: In the United States criminal justice system, jury nullification ought to be used in the face of perceived injustice.
http://everydaydebate.blogspot.com/2015/10/LD2015-11-jury-nullification-intro.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/08/07/rethinking-jury-nullification/
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/21/opinion/jurors-can-say-no.html?_r=0
http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/116/606/611938/
http://www.foxnews.com/story/2005/08/01/justice-often-served-by-jury-nullification.html
http://niagarafallsreporter.com/Stories/2013/Jul9/Examples.html
http://fija.org/2015/08/05/john-adams-notes-on-the-right-of-jury-nullification/
https://www.ajs.org/judicial-administration/jury-center/jury-system-overview/jury-powers/jurys-power-disregard-law/jury-nullification-debate/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/08/10/the-problem-with-jury-nullification/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/08/10/more-on-the-debate-over-jury-nullification-a-response-to-orin-kerr/
https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2014/04/04/far-right-jury-nullification-concept-resurfaces-marijuana-debate
https://mises.org/library/rise-and-fall-jury-nullification-0
4. A Lincoln Douglas Round
5. Values 101
The Values of LD
As I have said in my introduction, the "values" in LD debate are the lofty ideals which most human beings hold dear. The best "values" are those which are esteemed by the majority of humans and not dependent upon cultural, religious, nationalistic or other such boundaries. They are universally appealing. Most of the time these values will fall into three groupings depending on the nature of the case or the resolution being debated.
The first group are the personal values - those which individuals cherish:
- life - the supreme value perhaps and often related to quality of life
- quality of life - qualities which make life worth living
- liberty - freedom to do whatever, whenever
- justice - receiving just desserts
- happiness - the sense of pleasure
- autonomy - self-determination
- safety - free from all manner of threats
- health - without physical limitation
- well-being - general sense life is good
- self-worth / dignity - one's life has value to others
- privacy - anonymity or the right to keep some aspects of life non-public
- morality - discernment of right behavior
- equality - all members have the same opportunities
- egalitarianism - see equality above (more a philosophy of equality)
- social justice - the society conforms to standards of just desserts
- social harmony - everyone gets along
- societal welfare / well-being - community care
- upward mobility - ability to climb the ladder of success
- fairness - everyone is treated justly
- community / belonging - being accepted by the group
- rule of law - willingness to submit to legal authority
- democracy/democratic ideals - everyone has an equal voice
- progress / social progress - ability to achieve higher ideals or standards
- morality - group or corporate right behavior
- government legitimacy - recognized authority granted to the government
- security - duty of the government to protect citizens, lives, liberty and property
- (open markets - sometimes) - freedom to participate in the market place
- autonomy - freedom from outside interference
- duty of government - values arising out of the social contract; duty to protect citizens
- morality - right behavior of nations and governments
