There has been no clearer principle of English or American…
“There has been no clearer principle of English or American constitutional law than that, in criminal cases, it is not only the power and duty of juries to judge what are the facts, what is the law, and what is the moral intent of the accused; but that it is also their power, and their primary and paramount duty, to judge the justice of the law, and to hold all laws invalid, that are, in their opinion, unjust or oppressive, and find all persons guiltless in violating, or resisting the execution of, such laws.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Juries should assess not only facts and law but also the moral justice of statutes, rejecting unjust laws and protecting individual conscience.
In simple terms: Juries must judge law fairness, not just legality.
Key Takeaway
Demand fairness from legal systems.
Themes
justice
law
jurisprudence
morality
individual rights
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
legal
philosophical
When to use this quote
- courtrooms
- legal reform
- civil rights activism
Key Concepts
legal theory
civil disobedience
constitutional law
Questions to Reflect On
- Should juries have the power to invalidate laws?
- How can fairness be measured objectively?
A Different Perspective
Juries may lack expertise to evaluate complex moral issues.