If a juror feels that the statute involved in any criminal…
“If a juror feels that the statute involved in any criminal offence is unfair, or that it infringes upon the defendant's natural god-given unalienable or constitutional rights, then it is his duty to affirm that the offending statute is really no law at all and that the violation of it is no crime at all, for no one is bound to obey an unjust law.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
An unjust law lacks moral authority; citizens should not obey laws that violate fundamental rights.
In simple terms: Unjust laws should not be obeyed.
Key Takeaway
Question the morality of laws.
Themes
justice
civil disobedience
legal ethics
rights
Mood
serious
reflective
Type
legal
ethical
When to use this quote
- protesting unjust statutes
- civil activism
- legal reform
- public policy
- education on rights
Key Concepts
natural law
constitutional rights
moral duty
Questions to Reflect On
- What constitutes an "unjust" law?
- How can individuals responsibly resist such laws?
A Different Perspective
Enforcement may be risky or illegal.