Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quoteShare via Email Print this Page Daily Quotes Archives2024-06-04 Jun 4, 2024When courts fail to engage in oversight or even distort the Constitution to rationalize the ultra vires actions of government, and when academics and political activists aid and abet them in this activity by devising ingenious rationalizations for ignoring the Constitution’s words, they are playing a most dangerous game. For they are putting at risk the legitimacy of the lawmaking process and risking the permanent disaffection of significant segments of the people.~ Brannon P. DenningI say that you cannot administer a wicked law impartially. You can only destroy. You can only punish. I warn you that a wicked law, like cholera, destroys everyone it touches — its upholders as well as its defiers.~ Jerome LawrenceThe dignity and stability of government in all its branches, the morals of the people, and every blessing of society depend so much upon an upright and skillful administration of justice, that the judicial power ought to be distinct from both the legislative and executive, and independent upon both, that so it may be a check upon both, and both should be checks upon that.~ John Adams Jun 3, 2024The pages of history shine on instances of the jury's exercise of its prerogative to disregard instructions of the judge...~ U.S. vs. Dougherty[N]o American should retreat an inch on the right of jurors to acquit if they perceive the law or its administration to be unjust.~ Charley ReeseOne of the greatest problems that we as a free people face today is that for the past 100 years trial judges in the U.S. have routinely misinformed jurors that they were bound to accept the judge’s opinion of what the law is; which law to apply; and whether or not they had to find a defendant guilty. In so doing these judges have welded shut this all important safety valve, which our Founders so wisely provided our society -- and the result has been an explosive one.~ Mike Robbins May 31, 2024Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion all have a double aspect – freedom of thought and freedom of action.~ Frank MurphyEvery prudent and cautious judge ... will remember, that his duty and his business is, not to make the law, but to interpret and apply it.~ James WilsonOf...freedom [of thought and speech] one may say that it is the matrix, the indispensable condition, of nearly every other form of freedom.~ Justice Benjamin Cardozo May 30, 2024All bad precedents began as justifiable measures.~ Gaius Julius CaesarBy placing discretion in the hands of an official to grant or deny a license, such a statute creates a threat of censorship that by its very existence chills free speech.~ Harry A. BlackmunA free press stands as one of the great interpreters between the government and the people. To allow it to be fettered is to fetter ourselves.~ Justice George Sutherland May 29, 2024Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There's no better rule.~ Charles DickensJudges are but men, and are swayed like other men by vehement prejudices. This is corruption in reality, give it whatever other name you please.~ David Dudley Field, IIWe are more especially called upon to maintain the principles of free discussion in case of unpopular sentiments or persons, as in no other case will any effort to maintain them be needed.~ Edward Beecher Previous week's quotes Next week's quotes Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print