Quotes by Judge | Beyond Motive 8/14

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Quotes by Judge

"It is anomalous to hold that in order to convict a man the police cannot extract by force what is in his mind, but can extract what is in his stomach."

"It is anomalous to hold that in order to convict a man the police cannot extract by force what is in his mind, but can extract what is in his stomach."

Felix Frankfurter, American Judge

Force, Man, Mind, Order

47

"We've talked more about civil rights after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 than we talked about it before 1964."

"We've talked more about civil rights after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 than we talked about it before 1964."

Clarence Thomas, American Judge

Act, Civil rights

47

"If you think aficionados of a living Constitution want to bring you flexibility, think again. You think the death penalty is a good idea? Persuade your fellow citizens to adopt it. You want a right to abortion? Persuade your fellow citizens and enact it. That's flexibility."

"If you think aficionados of a living Constitution want to bring you flexibility, think again. You think the death penalty is a good idea? Persuade your fellow citizens to adopt it. You want a right to abortion? Persuade your fellow citizens and enact it. That's flexibility."

Antonin Scalia, American Judge

Death, Idea, Abortion, Constitution

47

"A child born to a Black mother in a state like Mississippi... has exactly the same rights as a white baby born to the wealthiest person in the United States. It's not true, but I challenge anyone to say it is not a goal worth working for."

"A child born to a Black mother in a state like Mississippi... has exactly the same rights as a white baby born to the wealthiest person in the United States. It's not true, but I challenge anyone to say it is not a goal worth working for."

Thurgood Marshall, American Judge

Mother, Goal, Baby, Challenge

47

"In mid-life the man wants to see how irresistible he still is to younger women. How they turn their hearts to stone and more or less commit a murder of their marriage I just don't know, but they do."

"In mid-life the man wants to see how irresistible he still is to younger women. How they turn their hearts to stone and more or less commit a murder of their marriage I just don't know, but they do."

Earl Warren, American Judge

Marriage, Women, Man, Murder

47

"Criticism of government finds sanctuary in several portions of the 1st Amendment. It is part of the right of free speech. It embraces freedom of the press."

"Criticism of government finds sanctuary in several portions of the 1st Amendment. It is part of the right of free speech. It embraces freedom of the press."

Hugo Black, American Judge

Government, Criticism, Free speech, Freedom

47

"And Fall, with her yeller harvest moon and the hills growin' brown and golden under a sinkin' sun."

"And Fall, with her yeller harvest moon and the hills growin' brown and golden under a sinkin' sun."

Roy Bean, American Judge

Harvest, Moon, Sun

47

"For the saddest epitaph which can be carved in memory of a vanished freedom is that it was lost because its possessors failed to stretch forth a saving hand while there was still time."

"For the saddest epitaph which can be carved in memory of a vanished freedom is that it was lost because its possessors failed to stretch forth a saving hand while there was still time."

George Sutherland, English Judge

Time, Freedom, Memory

47

"Law cannot stand aside from the social changes around it."

"Law cannot stand aside from the social changes around it."

William J. Brennan, American Judge

47

"The object of man's worship, whatever it be, will naturally be his standard of perfection. He clothes it with every attribute, belonging, in his view, to a perfect character; and this character he himself endeavors to attain."

"The object of man's worship, whatever it be, will naturally be his standard of perfection. He clothes it with every attribute, belonging, in his view, to a perfect character; and this character he himself endeavors to attain."

Simon Greenleaf, American Judge

Character, Clothes, Man, Perfection

47

"Any discrimination, like sharp turns in a road, becomes critical because of the tremendous speed at which we are traveling into the high-tech world of a service economy."

"Any discrimination, like sharp turns in a road, becomes critical because of the tremendous speed at which we are traveling into the high-tech world of a service economy."

Clarence Thomas, American Judge

Discrimination, Economy, Road, Service

47

"The United States is the greatest law factory the world has ever known."

"The United States is the greatest law factory the world has ever known."

Charles Evans Hughes, American Judge

Law, states, United, World

47

"And finally Winter, with its bitin', whinin' wind, and all the land will be mantled with snow."

"And finally Winter, with its bitin', whinin' wind, and all the land will be mantled with snow."

Roy Bean, American Judge

Land, Snow, Will, Wind

47

"I do beseech you to direct your efforts more to preparing youth for the path and less to preparing the path for the youth."

"I do beseech you to direct your efforts more to preparing youth for the path and less to preparing the path for the youth."

Ben Lindsey, American Judge

47

"Concepts of justice must have hands and feet to carry out justice in every case in the shortest possible time and the lowest possible cost. This is the challenge to every lawyer and judge in America."

"Concepts of justice must have hands and feet to carry out justice in every case in the shortest possible time and the lowest possible cost. This is the challenge to every lawyer and judge in America."

Warren E. Burger, American Judge

Time, America, Challenge, Feet

47

"If Columbus had an advisory committee he would probably still be at the dock."

"If Columbus had an advisory committee he would probably still be at the dock."

Arthur J. Goldberg, American Judge

Columbus, Committee

47

"You can't just lecture the poor that they shouldn't riot or go to extremes. You have to make the means of legal redress available."

"You can't just lecture the poor that they shouldn't riot or go to extremes. You have to make the means of legal redress available."

Harold H. Greene, American Judge

Legal, Extremes, Poor, Riot

47

"Abortion is inherently different from other medical procedures because no other procedure involves the purposeful termination of a potential life."

"Abortion is inherently different from other medical procedures because no other procedure involves the purposeful termination of a potential life."

Potter Stewart, American Judge

Life, Medical, Abortion, Potential

47

"He never wants anything but what's right and fair; only when you come to settle what's right and fair, it's everything that he wants and nothing that you want."

"He never wants anything but what's right and fair; only when you come to settle what's right and fair, it's everything that he wants and nothing that you want."

Thomas Hughes, British Judge

Nothing, Right, Want

47

"It is indeed an odd business that it has taken this Court nearly two centuries to "discover" a constitutional mandate to have counsel at a preliminary hearing."

"It is indeed an odd business that it has taken this Court nearly two centuries to "discover" a constitutional mandate to have counsel at a preliminary hearing."

Warren E. Burger, American Judge

Business, Court, Hearing

47

"A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions."

"A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions."

Oliver Holmes, Jr., American Judge

Experience, Mind, Old, Oliver Holmes

47

"The Framers of the Bill of Rights did not purport to "create" rights. Rather, they designed the Bill of Rights to prohibit our Government from infringing rights and liberties presumed to be preexisting."

"The Framers of the Bill of Rights did not purport to "create" rights. Rather, they designed the Bill of Rights to prohibit our Government from infringing rights and liberties presumed to be preexisting."

William J. Brennan, Jr., American Judge

Government, Rights, William J. Brennan, Jr.

47

"I don't believe in quotas. America was founded on a philosophy of individual rights, not group rights."

"I don't believe in quotas. America was founded on a philosophy of individual rights, not group rights."

Clarence Thomas, American Judge

America, Rights, Philosophy

47

"If we're picking people to draw out of their own conscience and experience a 'new' Constitution, we should not look principally for good lawyers. We should look to people who agree with us. When we are in that mode, you realize we have rendered the Constitution useless."

"If we're picking people to draw out of their own conscience and experience a 'new' Constitution, we should not look principally for good lawyers. We should look to people who agree with us. When we are in that mode, you realize we have rendered the Constitution useless."

Antonin Scalia, American Judge

Experience, People, Conscience, Constitution

47

"We forget that the most successful statesmen have been professionals. Lincoln was a professional politician."

"We forget that the most successful statesmen have been professionals. Lincoln was a professional politician."

Felix Frankfurter, American Judge

Success, Successful, Forget, professionals

47

"America has believed that in differentiation, not in uniformity, lies the path of progress. It acted on this belief; it has advanced human happiness, and it has prospered."

"America has believed that in differentiation, not in uniformity, lies the path of progress. It acted on this belief; it has advanced human happiness, and it has prospered."

Louis D. Brandeis, American Judge

Happiness, Progress, Belief, America

47

"A self-made man may prefer a self-made name."

"A self-made man may prefer a self-made name."

Learned Hand, American Judge

Man, May, Name, Self

46

"Whether or not we establish freedom rests with ourselves."

"Whether or not we establish freedom rests with ourselves."

Florence E. Allen, American Judge

46

"The concept of neutrality can lead to a brooding and pervasive devotion to the secular and a passive, or even active, hostility to the religious. Such results are not only not compelled by the Constitution, but, it seems to me, are prohibited by it."

"The concept of neutrality can lead to a brooding and pervasive devotion to the secular and a passive, or even active, hostility to the religious. Such results are not only not compelled by the Constitution, but, it seems to me, are prohibited by it."

Arthur J. Goldberg, American Judge

Constitution, Devotion, Neutrality, Religious

46

"There can be no assumption that today's majority is "right" and the Amish and others like them are "wrong." A way of life that is odd or even erratic but interferes with no rights or interests of others is not to be condemned because it is different."

"There can be no assumption that today's majority is "right" and the Amish and others like them are "wrong." A way of life that is odd or even erratic but interferes with no rights or interests of others is not to be condemned because it is different."

Warren E. Burger, American Judge

Life, Rights, Majority, Today

46

"There is nothing new in the realization that the Constitution sometimes insulates the criminality of a few in order to protect the privacy of us all."

"There is nothing new in the realization that the Constitution sometimes insulates the criminality of a few in order to protect the privacy of us all."

Antonin Scalia, American Judge

Constitution, Nothing, Order, Privacy

46

"Sometimes it is easy... to enhance your prestige by not exercising your responsibility, but that's not been the tradition of the court."

"Sometimes it is easy... to enhance your prestige by not exercising your responsibility, but that's not been the tradition of the court."

Anthony Kennedy, American Judge

Court, Responsibility, Tradition

46

"Gratitude is one of the least articulate of the emotions, especially when it is deep."

"Gratitude is one of the least articulate of the emotions, especially when it is deep."

Felix Frankfurter, American Judge

Gratitude, Deep, Emotions

46

"You cannot raise the standard against oppression, or leap into the breach to relieve injustice, and still keep an open mind to every disconcerting fact, or an open ear to the cold voice of doubt."

"You cannot raise the standard against oppression, or leap into the breach to relieve injustice, and still keep an open mind to every disconcerting fact, or an open ear to the cold voice of doubt."

Learned Hand, American Judge

Doubt, Fact, Injustice, Mind

46

"Everything I did in my life that was worthwhile, I caught hell for."

"Everything I did in my life that was worthwhile, I caught hell for."

Earl Warren, American Judge

46

"If it is a mistake of the head and not the heart don't worry about it, that's the way we learn."

"If it is a mistake of the head and not the heart don't worry about it, that's the way we learn."

Earl Warren, American Judge

Mistake, Heart, Worry

46

"All of the legal defense funds out there, they're looking for people out there with court of appeals experience, because court of appeals is where policy is made. And I know, I know this is on tape and I should never say that because we don't make law, I know. I know."

"All of the legal defense funds out there, they're looking for people out there with court of appeals experience, because court of appeals is where policy is made. And I know, I know this is on tape and I should never say that because we don't make law, I know. I know."

Sonia Sotomayor, American Judge

Legal, Experience, People, Policy

46

"Words are not pebbles in alien juxtaposition."

"Words are not pebbles in alien juxtaposition."

Learned Hand, American Judge

46

"What the Court really has refused to recognize is the fundamental interest all individuals have in controlling the nature of their intimate associations."

"What the Court really has refused to recognize is the fundamental interest all individuals have in controlling the nature of their intimate associations."

Harry A. Blackmun, American Judge

Nature, Court, Interest

46

"The association promotes a way of life, not causes; a harmony in living, not political faiths; a bilateral loyalty, not commercial or social projects. Yet it is an association for as noble a purpose as any involved in any prior decisions."

"The association promotes a way of life, not causes; a harmony in living, not political faiths; a bilateral loyalty, not commercial or social projects. Yet it is an association for as noble a purpose as any involved in any prior decisions."

William O. Douglas, American Judge

Life, Purpose, Causes, Decisions

46

"In addition to fines, violators of decency standards could be required to air public service announcements serving educational and informational needs of children."

"In addition to fines, violators of decency standards could be required to air public service announcements serving educational and informational needs of children."

Charles W. Pickering, American Judge

Children, Decency, Needs, Public

46

"I was asked three times directly in the hearing before the board of the judiciary whether or not I would continue to acknowledge God if I were to resume my position as chief justice. And I said I would."

"I was asked three times directly in the hearing before the board of the judiciary whether or not I would continue to acknowledge God if I were to resume my position as chief justice. And I said I would."

Roy Moore, American Judge

God, Hearing, Justice

46

"The right of an individual to conduct intimate relationships in the intimacy of his or her own home seems to me to be the heart of the Constitution's protection of privacy."

"The right of an individual to conduct intimate relationships in the intimacy of his or her own home seems to me to be the heart of the Constitution's protection of privacy."

Harry A. Blackmun, American Judge

Home, Heart, Constitution, Intimacy

46

"All our work, our whole life is a matter of semantics, because words are the tools with which we work, the material out of which laws are made, out of which the Constitution was written. Everything depends on our understanding of them."

"All our work, our whole life is a matter of semantics, because words are the tools with which we work, the material out of which laws are made, out of which the Constitution was written. Everything depends on our understanding of them."

Felix Frankfurter, American Judge

Life, Work, Constitution, Laws

46

"If members of the security apparatus could, with impunity, keep from those elected by the people that which they're entitled to know - or worse, feed false information - those who could control the classified data could be the real decision makers."

"If members of the security apparatus could, with impunity, keep from those elected by the people that which they're entitled to know - or worse, feed false information - those who could control the classified data could be the real decision makers."

Harold H. Greene, American Judge

People, Control, Decision, Information

46

"He who doesn't fear death dies only once."

"He who doesn't fear death dies only once."

Giovanni Falcone, Italian Judge

46

"If we are to keep democracy, there must be a commandment: Thou shalt not ration justice."

"If we are to keep democracy, there must be a commandment: Thou shalt not ration justice."

Learned Hand, American Judge

Democracy, Justice

46

"To the extent that the judicial profession becomes the daily routine of deciding cases on the most secure precedents and the narrowest grounds available, the judicial mind atrophies and its perspective shrinks."

"To the extent that the judicial profession becomes the daily routine of deciding cases on the most secure precedents and the narrowest grounds available, the judicial mind atrophies and its perspective shrinks."

Irving R. Kaufman, American Judge

Mind, Perspective, Precedents, Profession

46

"That the king can do no wrong is a necessary and fundamental principle of the English constitution."

"That the king can do no wrong is a necessary and fundamental principle of the English constitution."

William Blackstone, English Judge

Constitution, Wrong

46

"At the constitutional level where we work, 90 percent of any decision is emotional. The rational part of us supplies the reasons for supporting our predilections."

"At the constitutional level where we work, 90 percent of any decision is emotional. The rational part of us supplies the reasons for supporting our predilections."

William O. Douglas, American Judge

46

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