William Murray Quotes

The constitution [of England] does not allow reasons of State to influence our judgment: God forbid it should! We must not regard political consequences; how formidable soever they might be; if rebellion was the certain consequence, we are bound to say, Fiat justitia, ruat coelum

The bedrock of our democracy is the rule of law and that means we have to have an independent judiciary, judges who can make decisions independent of the political winds that are blowing.

The judiciary must not take on the coloration of whatever may be popular at the moment. We are guardian of rights, and we have to tell people things they often do not like to hear.

The purpose of a written constitution is to bind up the several branches of government by certain laws, which, when they transgress, their acts shall become nullities; to render unnecessary an appeal to the people, or in other words a rebellion, on every infraction of their rights, on the peril that their acquiescence shall be construed into an intention to surrender those rights.

Judges shall judge justly, according to the written law and not according to their own judgment.

It's not about whether we should have a conservative or a liberal. It's about, do we have someone that has the mental acumen to understand what the laws are, and not write laws but defend the laws. That's the whole purpose of three branches of government.

In England Parliament is above the law. In America the law is above Congress.

A federal judge did as he was supposed to do and upheld the Constitution. We should be thankful that we have judiciary that will do that.

The Supreme Court needs jurists, not politicians.

I will be vigilant to protect the independence and integrity of the Supreme Court, and I will work to ensure that it upholds the rule of law and safeguards those liberties that make this land one of endless possibilities for all Americans.

The old Court you and I served so long will not be worthy of its traditions if Nixon can twist, turn and fashion If Nixon gets away with that, then Nixon makes the law as he goes along - not the Congress nor the courts.

The Department of Justice should never be reduced to a political arm of the White House.

If the country comes to believe that judges are politicians in robes no end of difficulty will come from that.

It (lifetime appointment of judges) is the best expedient which can be devised in any government, to secure a steady, upright, and impartial administration of the laws.

Judges are not politicians who can promise things in exchange for support.

Statutes and constitutions do not protect judicial independence -- people do.

As judges we are neither Jew nor gentile, neither Catholic nor agnostic …. As a member of this court I am not justified in writing my private notions of policy into the Constitution, no matter how deeply I may cherish them.

… courts do not substitute their social and economic beliefs for the judgment of legislative bodies, who are elected to pass laws

The judge has no right to divinations of public opinion which run counter to its last formal expressions.

The judge may not … express his … personal beliefs ... as to what is right or just

Judges ... rule on the basis of law, not public opinion, and they should be totally indifferent to pressures of the times.

A judge who likes every outcome he reaches is very likely a bad judge... stretching for results he prefers rather than those the law demands.

I believe Judge Kavanaugh will be a justice whose adherence to the Constitution and the rule of law will be a credit to the Court and all Americans.

The last stop to protect rights and liberties is the Supreme Court.

We want a Supreme Court which will do justice under the Constitution - not over it. In our courts we want a government of laws and not of men.