Prosecutors want to bar Tim DeChristopher from arguing in his upcoming criminal trial that he placed bogus bids on oil and gas leases to combat the climate crisis.
The reason, legal experts say, is the fear the some jurors may buy his argument.
DeChristopher deliberately placed false bids so as to disrupt the leasing by the Bush Administration of Utah land for oil and gas exploration. And he succeeded. The leases were not made and the Obama Administration has, I believe, blocked new auctions from happening.
If jury nullification can happen in Utah – and I hope it does – then that will send shock waves through the entire legal system.