John Dryden Quotes

The work of deciding cases goes on every day in hundreds of courts throughout the land. Any judge, one might suppose, would find it easy to describe the process which he had followed a thousand times and more. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

The judge weighs the arguments and puts a brave face on the matter, and since there must be a decision, decides as he can, and hopes he has done justice and given satisfaction to the community

Justice too long delayed is justice denied.

Juries are not qualified to judge questions of law, but they are very capable of judging questions of fact.

As to the long time spent on lawsuits, that is due to concern for justice, that judges may not fail in passing correct judgments, by having to give sentence offhand; it is better that they should reflect, and conclude the case more tardily, than that by judging in a hurry they should both injure man and transgress against the Deity, the institutor of justice....

If the case is close, 5-4, and let's say you are on the side that prevailed with the majority, there are not a lot of high-fives and back slaps. There is a moment of quiet, a moment of respect, maybe even sometimes awe in the process. We realize that one of us is going to have to write out a decision which teaches and gives reasons for what we do.

While I sat in family court, I probably heard 20 or 25,000 cases. And I am sure, during the course of those cases, there were cases that I probably would've decided differently had I had either more time or been able to explore more. But all you can do as a judge is really give a case your best effort.

Most of us tend to be swayed by what we read. Judges are not superhuman. They, too, are mortals. This is why they have to be exceptionally careful in rendering decisions, which cause unintended consequences.

I acknowledge these are very tough jobs a judge has in determining whether or not there is an openness that is required under the Constitution.

We must remember that we have to make judges out of men, and that by being made judges their prejudices are not diminished and their intelligence is not increased.

Do not give sentence in another tribunal till you have been yourself judged in the tribunal of Justice.

The role of the judge is simply to decide cases.

A Judge must bear in mind that when he tries a case he is himself on trial.

The policeman on the beat or in the patrol car makes more decisions and exercises broader discretion affecting the daily lives of people every day and to a greater extent, in many respects, than a judge will ordinarily exercise in a week.

He who has the judge for his father goes into court with an easy mind.

My rule was I will not answer a question that attempts to project how I will rule in a case that might come before the court.

I think whether you are a judge on my court or whether you are a judge on a court of appeals or any court, and lawyers too - and if you're interested in law yourself, you'll be in the same situation - you have a text that isn't clear. If the text is clear, you follow the text. If the text isn't clear, you have to work out what it means. And that requires context.

I've never hanged a man. It is the law that has done it.

Knowing that religion does not furnish grosser bigots than law, I expect little from old judges.

A wise judge may let mercy temper justice but may not let mercy undo it.

A good Judge conceives quickly, judges slowly.

How is it appropriate for a judge ever to say that they will choose to see some facts and not others?

Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life.

Good judges are always open to the possibility of changing their minds based on the next brief that they read, or the next argument that's made by an attorney who's appearing before them, or a comment that is made by a colleague during the conference on the case when the judges privately discuss the case.