Constitution Quote by Deborah Rhode
“You can understand why the original framers of judicial ethics thought it would be undignified and would call into question the legitimacy of the judicial decision-making process to have mudslinging by judges, but the way that we hobble people of enormous integrity from defending themselves is, I think, deeply problematic in states where you have an elected judiciary, or a judge is subject to recall.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Judicial Ethics in the United States, 2015
Critiques the prohibition on judges criticizing each other, arguing it unfairly limits judges with integrity from defending themselves, especially in elected or recallable systems.
In simple terms: Restricting judges from speaking up can be unfair.
Key Takeaway
Protect judges’ right to defend themselves.
Themes
law
ethics
politics
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
normative
analytical
When to use this quote
- courtrooms
- public hearings
- media interviews
- legislative debates
Key Concepts
judicial independence
free speech
Questions to Reflect On
- Should judges be allowed to criticize peers?
- How does this affect public trust?
A Different Perspective
Balancing dignity with accountability is complex.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
