--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The judiciary wields enormous power but…" description: "\"The judiciary wields enormous power but is utterly mysterious to most Americans. People know more about 'American Idol' judges than Supreme Court judge..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/don-willett-24753_american-idol_the-judiciary-wields-enormous-power-but_3074180.jpg" --- # The judiciary wields enormous power but is utterly… ![“The judiciary wields enormous power but is utterly mysterious to most Americans. People know more about 'American Idol' judges than Supreme Court judges. Done right, social media is a high-octane tool to boost civic awareness.” quote by Don Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/don-willett-24753_american-idol_the-judiciary-wields-enormous-power-but_3074180.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/don-willett-24753_american-idol_the-judiciary-wields-enormous-power-but_3074180.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/don-willett-24753_american-idol_the-judiciary-wields-enormous-power-but_3074180.jpg) > “The judiciary wields enormous power but is utterly mysterious to most Americans. People know more about 'American Idol' judges than Supreme Court judges. Done right, social media is a high-octane tool to boost civic awareness.” [Don Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-willett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Supreme Court is powerful yet opaque, while popular culture judges are better known; social media can bridge this gap to inform citizens. **In simple terms:** Supreme Court is powerful but unknown; media can inform. Key Takeaway Use social media to raise awareness of judicial work. Themes civic engagement media judiciary Mood concerned optimistic Type advice analytical When to use this quote - voter education - media campaigns - public forums - school curricula Key Concepts political science information dissemination Questions to Reflect On - What strategies ensure accurate information spreads? - How to counter misinformation about the courts? A Different Perspective Social media can also spread misinformation, complicating education efforts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American idol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-idol/) [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Court judges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court-judges/) [Idol Judges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idol-judges-5214908/) [Judges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judges/) [Judiciary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judiciary/) [Judiciary Wields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judiciary-wields-5214907/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Social media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-media/) ## Related quotes > [District court judges have exceeded their authority and inserted themselves in national policy debates where they don't belong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/district-court-judges-have-exceeded-their-authority-and-inserted/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [Hell is full of high court judges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sting/hell-is-full-of-high-court-judges/) [Sting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sting/) > [I mean, Donald Trump has been able, because of Mitch McConnell, to seat more circuit court judges almost than Barack Obama did in eight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-seder/i-mean-donald-trump-has-been-able-because-of-mitch-mcconnell-to-seat/) [Sam Seder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-seder/) > [Just as judges have enormous stake in the appointment of judicial officers in the higher judiciary, the government has an equal stake. Since both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kapil-sibal/just-as-judges-have-enormous-stake-in-the-appointment-of-judicial/) [Kapil Sibal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kapil-sibal/) > [Every institution, including the judiciary has its share of black sheep and corrupt judges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prashant-bhushan/every-institution-including-the-judiciary-has-its-share-of-black/) [Prashant Bhushan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prashant-bhushan/) > [Every institution of India - politicians, journalists and corporate chieftains - comes within the purview of the judiciary but when it comes to auditing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkha-dutt/every-institution-of-india-politicians-journalists-and-corporate/) [Barkha Dutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkha-dutt/) > [The Constitution is what the judges say it is, every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rodell/the-constitution-is-what-the-judges-say-it-is-every-time/) [Fred Rodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rodell/) > [The appointment of judges to the higher judiciary cannot be the sole domain of a few members of the higher judiciary. This turf must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kapil-sibal/the-appointment-of-judges-to-the-higher-judiciary-cannot-be-the-sole/) [Kapil Sibal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kapil-sibal/) > [The judiciary is peopled by judges who are human, and being human, they are occasionally motivated by considerations other than an objective view of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prashant-bhushan/the-judiciary-is-peopled-by-judges-who-are-human-and-being-human-they/) [Prashant Bhushan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prashant-bhushan/) > [The judiciary has fallen to a very low state in this country. I think your part of the country has suffered especially. The federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-judiciary-has-fallen-to-a-very-low-state-in-this-country-i-think/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [The Constitution is what the judges say it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-evans-hughes/the-constitution-is-what-the-judges-say-it-is/) [Charles Evans Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-evans-hughes/) > [It is not the responsibility of the judiciary to amend poor legislative drafting, even if judges would personally prefer a different outcome than what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amul-thapar/it-is-not-the-responsibility-of-the-judiciary-to-amend-poor/) [Amul Thapar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amul-thapar/) > [Privatizing bits of the prison industry was a step in the right direction, but what we didn't have - until recently - were proper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/privatizing-bits-of-the-prison-industry-was-a-step-in-the-right/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [Normally, the secrecy and lack of transparency surrounding the appointment of judges of the higher judiciary ensures that citizens come to know of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prashant-bhushan/normally-the-secrecy-and-lack-of-transparency-surrounding-the/) [Prashant Bhushan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prashant-bhushan/) > [For any unbiased and realistic enquiry against judges, one needs a full time body, independent of the government as well as of the judiciary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prashant-bhushan/for-any-unbiased-and-realistic-enquiry-against-judges-one-needs-a/) [Prashant Bhushan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prashant-bhushan/) ## More by Don Willett > [If legislators come to believe that police power is an ever-present constitutional trump card they can play whenever it suits them, overreaching is inexorable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-willett/if-legislators-come-to-believe-that-police-power-is-an-ever-present/) [Don Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-willett/) > [I was recently designated Tweeter Laureate of Texas, which apparently is a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-willett/i-was-recently-designated-tweeter-laureate-of-texas-which-apparently/) [Don Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-willett/) > [Usually what goes through my mind before I hit the tweet button is, did I misspell or mis-grammatize anything, but also, is this worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-willett/usually-what-goes-through-my-mind-before-i-hit-the-tweet-button-is/) [Don Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-willett/) > [I don't remember much of my childhood. My father passed away when I was six, and sadly, I don't have the fuzziest, foggiest memory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-willett/i-don-t-remember-much-of-my-childhood-my-father-passed-away-when-i/) [Don Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-willett/) > [Judges should always behave judicially by adjudicating, never politically by legislating. I leave policy to policymakers. They're preeminent, but they're not omnipotent. In other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-willett/judges-should-always-behave-judicially-by-adjudicating-never/) [Don Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-willett/) > [In parenting, as in judging, the days are long, but the years are short.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-willett/in-parenting-as-in-judging-the-days-are-long-but-the-years-are-short/) [Don Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-willett/) > [I think people just find it remarkable that a high court justice would step out from behind the bench and have a persona that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-willett/i-think-people-just-find-it-remarkable-that-a-high-court-justice/) [Don Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-willett/) > [Our Constitution exists to secure individual freedom, the essential condition of human flourishing. Liberty is not provided by government; liberty preexists government. It's our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-willett/our-constitution-exists-to-secure-individual-freedom-the-essential/) [Don Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-willett/) > [When writing, I split my time between my chambers and my satellite office: my neighborhood Chick-fil-A. It offers the word-nerd trifecta: I bring Bose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-willett/when-writing-i-split-my-time-between-my-chambers-and-my-satellite/) [Don Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-willett/) > [Unlike tennis matches, Supreme Court decisions are tiebreaker-free, meaning the lower-court ruling stands without any high-court guidance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-willett/unlike-tennis-matches-supreme-court-decisions-are-tiebreaker-free/) [Don Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-willett/) > [Re-election comes every six years, which explains why I spend so much time on Twitter. If you're an obscure judge whose name ID hovers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-willett/re-election-comes-every-six-years-which-explains-why-i-spend-so-much/) [Don Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-willett/) > [If you're president, it's often your court appointments that seal your legacy with a capital L.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-willett/if-you-re-president-it-s-often-your-court-appointments-that-seal-your/) [Don Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-willett/) > [Serving 27 million Texans spread across 254 counties and two time zones isn't a job for those who require a lot of sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-willett/serving-27-million-texans-spread-across-254-counties-and-two-time/) [Don Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-willett/) > [There is a profound difference between an activist judge and an engaged judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-willett/there-is-a-profound-difference-between-an-activist-judge-and-an/) [Don Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-willett/) > [Folks are astounded that 'judge' isn't a synonym for 'humorless Luddite.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-willett/folks-are-astounded-that-judge-isn-t-a-synonym-for-humorless-luddite/) [Don Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-willett/) [Explore all 24 Don Willett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-willett/) ## More American idol quotes > [I learned about this talent show on TV that was basically the Estonian version of 'American Idol.' So I lied about my age, went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerli/i-learned-about-this-talent-show-on-tv-that-was-basically-the/) [Kerli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerli/) > [I'm cute - and God I hate that. Because that's not cool. I'm like your niece, and nobody wants to date their niece. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-clarkson/i-m-cute-and-god-i-hate-that-because-that-s-not-cool-i-m-like-your/) [Kelly Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-clarkson/) > [Being on 'American Idol,' the blessings of glasses have rained from the sky. I really would like to start a Danny line or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-gokey/being-on-american-idol-the-blessings-of-glasses-have-rained-from-the/) [Danny Gokey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-gokey/) > [I tried out for American Idol, I got a record deal, and now it's like my best days are ahead of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-gokey/i-tried-out-for-american-idol-i-got-a-record-deal-and-now-it-s-like/) [Danny Gokey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-gokey/) > [Well, we're just a couple of weeks from new President Barack Obama being sworn in. And he's been very busy naming a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/well-we-re-just-a-couple-of-weeks-from-new-president-barack-obama/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [The brutality of the pace. This was my third presidential campaign and it was a thousand times faster paced than my first one in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-madden/the-brutality-of-the-pace-this-was-my-third-presidential-campaign-and/) [Kevin Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-madden/) > [Since we launched the original 'Pop Idol' in England, I've remained close with Simon Fuller. Working as executive producer on 'American idol' for its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/since-we-launched-the-original-pop-idol-in-england-i-ve-remained/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [I've never seen American Idol but I am grateful to them. That show is one of Fox's biggest moneymakers, and some of that money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-ve-never-seen-american-idol-but-i-am-grateful-to-them-that-show-is/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [American Idol allowed us to find Carrie Underwood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/american-idol-allowed-us-to-find-carrie-underwood/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [At the end of the day, it is about the album and book and also about setting the record straight, because 'American Idol' has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-clark/at-the-end-of-the-day-it-is-about-the-album-and-book-and-also-about/) [Corey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-clark/) > [I think American Idol is a great career launcher. A blessing for all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/latoya-london/i-think-american-idol-is-a-great-career-launcher-a-blessing-for-all/) [LaToya London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/latoya-london/) > [When one person does something that works, everyone else wants to do it. So it didn't surprise me at all to see people come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-studdard/when-one-person-does-something-that-works-everyone-else-wants-to-do/) [Ruben Studdard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-studdard/) > [What made 'American Idol' different from 'The Voice' and all these other singing competitions... 'American Idol' just gave regular old normal people like me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/la-porsha-renae/what-made-american-idol-different-from-the-voice-and-all-these-other/) [La'Porsha Renae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/la-porsha-renae/) > [I can't watch American Idol... it's like karaoke without the booze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-can-t-watch-american-idol-it-s-like-karaoke-without-the-booze/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [On 'American Idol,' I felt like one of my challenges was picking songs because I've definitely been exposed to a lot of music. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-gokey/on-american-idol-i-felt-like-one-of-my-challenges-was-picking-songs/) [Danny Gokey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-gokey/) [Browse all 262 American idol quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-idol/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The judiciary wields enormous power but is utterly mysterious to most Americans. People know more about 'American Idol' judges than Supreme Court judges. Done right, social media is a high-octane tool to boost civic awareness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Don Willett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-willett/the-judiciary-wields-enormous-power-but-is-utterly-mysterious-to-most/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American idol" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-willett/the-judiciary-wields-enormous-power-but-is-utterly-mysterious-to-most/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/don-willett-24753_american-idol_the-judiciary-wields-enormous-power-but_3074180.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/don-willett-24753_american-idol_the-judiciary-wields-enormous-power-but_3074180.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/don-willett-24753_american-idol_the-judiciary-wields-enormous-power-but_3074180.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The judiciary wields enormous power but is utterly mysterious to most Americans. People know more about…” — Don Willett", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Don Willett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-willett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The judiciary wields enormous power but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-willett/the-judiciary-wields-enormous-power-but-is-utterly-mysterious-to-most/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-willett/the-judiciary-wields-enormous-power-but-is-utterly-mysterious-to-most/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```