Should an individual be charged with a crime for instructing jurors about their ability to refuse to convict someone based on a law they disagree with? In this op-ed, Paul Butler discusses the purpose and importance of jury nullification in our justice system.
Did race play a role in the criminal sentencing of a politician convicted of
taking a bribe? Professor Paul Butler appeared on Washington D.C.'s 9 News Now to share his opinion.
The cable network VH-1 is showing, in heavy rotation, an excellent documentary called “Planet Rock.” Ice-T narrates the story of how crack cocaine influenced hip-hop culture and business. I’m interviewed at a couple of points in the program. Here’s a bonus clip that VH-1 put on its website:
What Constitutional limitations, if any, does the Constitution impose upon racial profiling used by police and other U.S. government agents?
During this segment of D.C. Fox 5's Ask Allison segment, Professor Paul Butler provided his insight to answer a question by a Fox 5 viewer. The answer might surprise you.
The FBI is now looking into accusations made by fired District of Columbia employee Sulaimon Brown. The allegations read like a political thriller: money slipped in envelopes. Pay-to-play for a government job.
However, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray has retained Robert Bennett to represent him. And the Mayor is not running from questions. Professor Paul Butler joined Karen Houston to provide legal analysis. How should we interpret the fact that Brown has mired such a high-powered lawyer? Are criminal charges expected? Professor Butler provides answers in the video segment, below.
On January 8, 2011, Jared Lee Loughner is alleged to have opened fire at a political event near Tucson, Arizona, where Gabrielle Giffords, a United States Representative, was scheduled to speak. Giffords was shot in the head. Twenty people were shot, and nine died, including U.S. District Court for Arizona John Roll, a nine-year-old girl, a congressional aide, two 76-year-olds and a 79-year-old.
Professor Paul Butler joined Fox's D.C. news team to discuss the legal issues surrounding the case. What are the likely strategies of the prosecution and the defense? Might federal prosecutors seek the death penalty? Could an insanity defense succeed?/ Stream the video of the segment below for these answers.
On October 4, 2010, the first Monday in October, Elena Kagan, former Solicitor General and former Dean of the Harvard Law School, heard her first arguments as a Supreme Court Justice. She replaced Associate Justice John Paul Stevens, who served for thirty-five years.
Professor Paul Butler joined Newshour correspondent Jeffrey Brown in conversation with Marcia Coyle of the National Journal and former Solicitor General Paul Clement. The panel discussed a number of issues, including the possible challenges resuling from Justice Kagan's recusal from certain cases.
Dr. Alvin Jones is the owner of The Paradise Radio Network, and, on September 3rd, he interviewed Professor Paul Butler on his own radio show.
In the interview, Professor Butler discussed how mass incarceration affects the black community and especially black families. He also put forward his theory of jury-nullification; Professor Butler suggests that black individuals serving on juries should refuse to convict black defendants when they are charged with non-violent crimes, especially drug crimes.
The Chicago Tribune'sPrinters Row Lit Fest is an outdoor book festival that offers all comers the opportunity to hear authors speak and debate their works.
Professor Paul Butler was featured in discussion with Professor Geoffrey R. Stone, professor of law and The University of Chicago Law School. At this event, Butler discussed how putting more people in prison causes rather than prevents crime, how snitches decrease confidence in the criminal jusice system, how decriminilazation of drugs will decrease both crime rates and drug use, and how jury nullification can help prevent the overincarceration crisis.
Thanks to C-Span 2's BookTV, video of the event is available for download or for streaming below. If streaming, please be patient; the file is large and may take some time to preload.
Chicago Lit Fest with Professor Geoffrey StoneDuration: 50 minutes
The Archive: Other Appearances by Professor Paul Butler
