That it is better 100 guilty Persons should escape than that one innocent Person should suffer, is a Maxim that has been long and generally approved.
The law is hard but it is the law.
All judges had rather that ten innocent should suffer than that one guilty should escape.
Necessity gives the law and does not itself receive it.
The Common lawes of the Realme should by no means be delayed for the law is the surest sanctuary, that a man should take, and the strongest fortresse to protect the weakest of all, lex et tutissima cassis.
Law dies, books never.
Let the punishment fit the crime.
Possession is eleven points in the law.
It is a maxim of our municipal law, and, I believe, of universal law, that he who permits the end, permits of course the means, without which the end cannot be effected
Law that shocks equity is reason's murderer.
It is a general rule of Judgment, that a mischief should rather be admitted than an inconvenience.
Whatever is not forbidden is permitted.
Ignorance of the law excuses no man.
If the law supposes that,' said Mr Bumble...' the law is an ass - an idiot.
None shall take advantage of his own wrong.
The exception tests the rule.
A maxim in law has more weight in the world than an article of faith.
Better to be judged by twelve than carried by six.
Possession, they say, is eleven points of the law.
Let the punishment be equal with the offence. [Lat., Noxiae poena par esto.]
Reason is the life of the law.
It is better, saith the law, to suffer a mischief that is peculiar to one, than an inconvenience that may prejudice many.
I understand that it is a maxim of law, that a poor plea may be a good plea to a bad declaration.
The negative principle that no law is free law, is not much known except among lawyers.
There’s this powerful phrase in the legal world, “Difficult cases make bad law.” The exception is the difficult case. You can’t generalize them by definition. So although they are fascinating, they don’t solve any problem because they’re so one of a kind.
