Frank Deford Quotes

We know that this man has a proven record of being a 'strict constructionist.' Our President has given us his word that he will interpret the Constitution rather than make new laws from the bench.

While I have the greatest respect for the Supreme Court's members, I cannot claim familiarity with any particular judicial philosophies the justices might possess.

We are under a Constitution, but the Constitution is what the judges say it is.

As a general rule, I do not think judges should consider current societal preferences when ruling on constitutional challenges.

Liberal judges tend to be expansive about things like equal protection, while conservatives read more into ones like 'the right to bear arms.'

If I am confirmed, I will commit to show Heller and the principles articulated in it the full measure of respect that is due to all constitution decisions of the court.

A justice is not like a law professor, who might say, 'This is my theory... and this is what I'm going to be faithful to and consistent with,' and in twenty years will look back and say, 'I had a consistent theory of the First Amendment as applied to a particular area.'

What five members of the Supreme Court say the law is may be something vastly different from what Congress intended the law to be.

Judicial review has been a part of our democracy in this constitutional government for over 200 years.

My judicial philosophy is fidelity to the law.

The Supreme Court is our ultimate check and balance.

You’ve got to expect that there will be twists and turns [in court opinions], especially with major doctrine.

The [Supreme] Court did not interpret the Constitution—the court amended it.

The real difficulty is not with the Constitution but with the judges who interpret it.

Measured motions seem to me right, in the main, for constitutional as well as common law adjudication. Doctrinal limbs, too swiftly shaped, experience teaches, may prove unstable.

The Supreme Court, when it decides a new legal question, does not make illegal what was previously legal; it gives a final authoritative determination of whether an action was legal when it took place.

Constitutions are interpreted differently from statutes.

The Supreme Court has been of all features of our Government ... the most successful

I do not believe it is the function of the judiciary to step in and change the law because the times have changed.

A Supreme Court justice is sometimes a liberal on one issue and a conservative on another.

People expect that the law will be what the Supreme Court told them what the law was going to be.

The Supreme Court is never very far from public opinion.

The Supreme Court only hears the cases that it wants to hear.

The Supreme Court is very capable of acting quickly when it needs to.

If the court is a political institution making important political decisions, then the public should debate the politics of Supreme Court decisions.