AT SOME POINTS, LEGAL SYSTEMS GENERATE FOR THEIR AGENTS CONFLICTS THAT INTRODUCE DEPARTURES FROM RULES, THUS PROVIDING FOR ADJUSTMENT TO CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES OTHER THAN THROUGH EXPLICIT PROCEDURES FOR CONTROLLED CHANGE. THE ROLE OF THE CRIMINAL TRIAL JURY IN ACQUITTAL ILLUSTRATES THE MANNER IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OF LEGAL POWERS, RIGHTS, DUTIES, AND PRIVILEGES PROMOTES CONFLICT AND, AS A RESULT, JUSTIFICATION FOR TAKING DEPARTURES FROM THE RULES OF THE SYSTEM. THE OBLIGATION TO DEFER TO THE COURT'S INSTRUCTIONS, WHILE BINDING ON THE JUROR, EXISTS SIDE BY SIDE WITH A PROTECTED POWER AND PRIVILEGE TO OVERRIDE THAT OBLIGATION. THE RESULT IS THE LEGITIMATED INTERPOSITION OF THE JUROR'S OWN JUDGMENT BETWEEN THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE COURT'S INSTRUCTIONS AND THE FATE OF THE DEFENDANT. THERE FOLLOWS THE POSSIBILITY OF A JUSTIFIED DEPARTURE FROM RULES BY AGENTS ACTING IN A ROLE -- A POSSIBILITY THAT MAY SERVE SOCIAL ENDS OF MAJOR SIGNIFICANCE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)