Legal Checks Quotes

Independent judges have always frustrated governments that don't see why unelected arbiters of the law should stand in their way.

I don't think I can change the fact that the court can cancel a law, but I think the court should only get involved in extreme issues like human rights violations.

Determination by the legislature of what constitutes proper exercise of police power is not final or conclusive. It is subject to supervision by the courts.

Anyone who has followed my work knows that I'm an advocate of reducing the power of the High Court of Justice, according to the principle of separation of powers.

The right of the judge to inflict punishment gives him both power and opportunity to oppress the innocent; yet none but crazy men will from thence determine that it is best to have neither a legislature nor judges.

If judicial review means anything, it is that judicial restraint does not allow everything.

It is left... to the juries, if they think the permanent judges are under any bias whatever in any cause, to take on themselves to judge the law as well as the fact. They never exercise this power but when they suspect partiality in the judges; and by the exercise of this power they have been the firmest bulwarks of English liberty.

The only way to stop courts from misbehaving is a political battle.