Justice Hugo L. BlackJustice Hugo L. Black, (1886-1971) US Supreme Court Justice

Justice Hugo L. Black Quote

“The layman’s constitutional view is that what he likes is constitutional and that which he doesn’t like is unconstitutional.”

Justice Hugo L. BlackJustice Hugo L. Black
~ Justice Hugo L. Black

New York Times, 26 February 1971

Ratings and Comments


Joe, Rochester, MI

The U.S. Supreme Court must be a bunch of laymen, since they apparently don't understand the 5th amendment which states in part "...nor shall private property be taken for public use...". Considering the U.S. is a Republic, they are acting very socialist, or even comunist.

warren, olathe

You're right Joe. I wonder who we are. I think we need to be the jurists and judge a few of them incompetent.

warren, olathe

Congress does have the power to impeach them.

Mike, Norwalk

Not shooting the messenger, WAY too accurate ! Ask a layman to finitely and legally define individual sovereignty, the difference between nature's law and the philosophy of legal positivism, inalienable rights and liberty at "the laws of nature and of nature's God" (Declaration of Independence — the de jure foundation of the Constitution) and, a look of a deer lost in an oncoming vehicle's headlights would most often be the reaction. Current executives, judicature and legislators create, enforce and spread the same ignorance.

E Archer, NYC

Looking at the US Department of Education, this apparently is not an accident.  The dumbing down of Americans has been a concerted effort by the statists ever since they usurped the Constitutional government of the USA.  The idea that the Constitution is a 'living document' is a far cry from its original intent as a rule book for the government, to be strictly observed, granting no powers not specifically enumerated.

Yes, Warren, most Americans do not know who they are and what the Founders bequeathed to us.  We have a republic only if we can keep it — which is hard to do, if you don't even know what that is.

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