Joseph StoryJoseph Story, (1779-1845) US Supreme Court Justice

Joseph Story Quote

“The truth is, that, even with the most secure tenure of office, during good behavior, the danger is not, that the judges will be too firm in resisting public opinion, and in defence of private rights or public liberties; but, that they will be ready to yield themselves to the passions, and politics, and prejudices of the day.”

Joseph StoryJoseph Story
~ Joseph Story

Commentaries on the Constitution, 1833

Ratings and Comments


Mary -M
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Mary -M    7/1/15

John Story's quote surely and absolutely has come to fruition.
The current day U.S. Supreme Court has yielded themselves to their passions and completely dismissed their sacred oath and covenant to stay within the 4 corners and confines of their contract made to fully honor the U.S. Constitution.

"To consider the judges as the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional questions [is] a very dangerous doctrine indeed, and one which would place us under the despotism of an oligarchy. Our judges are as honest as other men and not more so. They have with others the same passions for party, for power, and the privilege of their corps. Their maxim is boni judicis est ampliare jurisdictionem [good justice is broad jurisdiction], and their power the more dangerous as they are in office for life and not responsible, as the other functionaries are, to the elective control. The Constitution has erected no such single tribunal, knowing that to whatever hands confided, with the corruptions of time and party, its members would become despots. It has more wisely made all the departments co-equal and co-sovereign within themselves." -- Thomas Jefferson to William C. Jarvis, 1820. ME 15:277

E Archer, NYC

Justice is supposed to be 'blind' and impartial -- the US Supreme Court is as partisan as our Congress.

Tony, Silver Spring, Md.

Human nature does not change over time. It is up to We the People to defend our liberties and we are doing a very poor job of protecting those freedoms from politics and the judiciary.

Patrick Henry, Red Hill

A truly qualified jurist is singularly devoted to the pursuit of Truth and is free of ideological pretentions.

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