[chainsaw]

Because U.S. District Judge Jack Weinstein decided the jury would play only an advisory role,

I have never heard of jury playing an advisory role. I'm not a legal person, but what is the sense of having a jury if their decision can be over ridden by a judge.

[Yo-Yo]

[B]ut what is the sense of having a jury if their decision can be over ridden by a judge.

You've heard of jury nullification? This is a case of Liberal Judge nullification.