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Every court of criminal justice must have the power of…

“Every court of criminal justice must have the power of correcting the greatest and dangerous of all abuses of the forms of law - that of the protracted imprisonment of the accused, untried, perhaps not intended ever to be tried, it may be, not informed of the nature of the charge against him, or…” quote by David Hume
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“Every court of criminal justice must have the power of correcting the greatest and dangerous of all abuses of the forms of law - that of the protracted imprisonment of the accused, untried, perhaps not intended ever to be tried, it may be, not informed of the nature of the charge against him, or the name of the accuser.”

David Hume

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The justice system must have the ability to correct severe abuses like indefinite pre‑trial detention without proper charges.

In simple terms: Justice must fix wrongful, endless detention.

Key Takeaway

Ensure timely trials and clear charges.

Themes

justice rights due process abuse of power

Mood

concerned critical

Type

legal philosophical

When to use this quote

  • pre‑trial detention
  • criminal courts
  • human rights advocacy
  • policy reform

Key Concepts

legal safeguards human rights procedural fairness

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can societies balance security with individual liberty?
  • What mechanisms ensure accountability for wrongful detention?
A Different Perspective

Limited by political will and resource constraints.

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