Episode Details

In Episode 20 of The No Treason Podcast, Jonathan Drake continues his deep dive into Lysander Spooner’s Trial by Jury, focusing on Chapter 9: “The Criminal Intent.”

Drake explores Spooner’s core argument that there can be no true crime without criminal intent, and that juries—not judges or statutes—must determine both the law and the motive of the accused. He contrasts natural law with modern statutory systems, arguing that courts have replaced the “guilty mind” standard with blind obedience to arbitrary legislation.

The episode dismantles the doctrine that “ignorance of the law excuses no one,” exposing it as a tool for maintaining absolute governmental authority rather than justice. Through examples ranging from property rights to medical licensing monopolies, Drake illustrates how the erosion of true trial by jury has enabled regulatory overreach and the expansion of state power.

Blending legal philosophy, historical analysis, and practical application, this installment challenges listeners to reconsider what justice actually means—and whether America still lives up to the title “land of the free.”