Left-wing groups train Washington residents to use jury nullification against DOJ cases

A coalition of left-leaning organizations, including Free DC and Harriet’s Wildest Dreams, has been conducting jury-nullification workshops in Washington, D.C., instructing participants to appear unbiased during voir dire and to conceal political symbols or activist ties. Trainers advise covering partisan apparel, tattoos and answering “no” to questions about membership in abolitionist groups, while stressing that jurors should not lie outright.

The initiative is presented as a means to undermine Department of Justice prosecutions led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, whose office has seen a surge in cases but several have failed to produce indictments. Organizers cite the 2025 not-guilty verdict for former DOJ employee Sean Dunn as evidence of their influence. Critics, including constitutional law professor Josh Blackman, note that providing false information during jury selection could violate legal duties, although attendance alone is unlikely to merit removal. The network is linked to broader activist entities such as the Juror Project and has declined to comment on safeguards against illegal conduct.