--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That, in part, is why the Constitution's…" description: "\"That, in part, is why the Constitution's framers gave justices life tenure ? to enable them to rule wherever the law and the Constitution led them, wit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b1/gerald-r-ford-2628_concern_that-in-part-is-why-the-constitution-s-f_1227475.jpg" --- # That, in part, is why the Constitution's framers gave… ![“That, in part, is why the Constitution's framers gave justices life tenure ? to enable them to rule wherever the law and the Constitution led them, without obligation or fear of political reprisal. Former Republican president Gerald Ford recently paid tribute to John Paul Stevens, his only…” quote by Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b1/gerald-r-ford-2628_concern_that-in-part-is-why-the-constitution-s-f_1227475.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b1/gerald-r-ford-2628_concern_that-in-part-is-why-the-constitution-s-f_1227475.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b1/gerald-r-ford-2628_concern_that-in-part-is-why-the-constitution-s-f_1227475.jpg) > “That, in part, is why the Constitution's framers gave justices life tenure ? to enable them to rule wherever the law and the Constitution led them, without obligation or fear of political reprisal. Former Republican president Gerald Ford recently paid tribute to John Paul Stevens, his only appointee to the Supreme Court, who is also far more liberal than Republicans expected. He has served his nation well, ... with dignity, intellect and without partisan political concerns.” [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life tenure protects judges from political pressure, allowing decisions guided by law and conscience rather than partisan demands. **In simple terms:** Judges need security to follow law, not politics. Key Takeaway Support judicial independence to maintain rule of law. Themes judicial independence constitutional design life tenure nonpartisan governance Mood respectful thoughtful Type legal historical When to use this quote - supreme court nominations - legal reforms - public trust in judiciary Key Concepts separation of powers rule of law institutional integrity Questions to Reflect On - Should judges be accountable to the public? - How does tenure affect judicial decision‑making? A Different Perspective Life tenure can reduce accountability if judges become detached. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Gerald ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gerald-ford/) [Intellect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellect/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Reprisal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reprisal/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Supreme court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supreme-court/) [Tenure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tenure/) [Tribute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tribute/) ## Related quotes > [I am very pleased with President Trump's selection of Judge Neil Gorsuch as his first appointee to the U.S. Supreme Court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-strange/i-am-very-pleased-with-president-trump-s-selection-of-judge-neil/) [Luther Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-strange/) > [“A student recently posed another question that gave me pause: “Given that there are only nine Supreme Court Justices, each with life tenure, can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/a-student-recently-posed-another-question-that-gave-me-pause-given/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“The democratic nations that have introduced freedom into their political constitution at the very time when they were augmenting the despotism of their administrative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/the-democratic-nations-that-have-introduced-freedom-into-their/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Our Constitution framers were men and women with great foresight. They understood the majesty of the rule of law, and of rule by laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-nath-kovind/our-constitution-framers-were-men-and-women-with-great-foresight-they/) [Ram Nath Kovind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-nath-kovind/) > [If the Constitution framers would come back today, they would have contempt for most of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/if-the-constitution-framers-would-come-back-today-they-would-have/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [The Constitution's framers intended to restrict central authority to the few areas that could not be handled by states. The drafters would be horrified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-bandow/the-constitution-s-framers-intended-to-restrict-central-authority-to/) [Doug Bandow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-bandow/) > [The degree to which we openly express our feelings should be governed, not by fear of reprisal, but by our commitment to loving others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-crabb/the-degree-to-which-we-openly-express-our-feelings-should-be-governed/) [Larry Crabb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-crabb/) > [Chimps act the way they feel unless they are afraid of reprisal if they do so. But that doesn't apply to humans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/chimps-act-the-way-they-feel-unless-they-are-afraid-of-reprisal-if/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [ The other reason why people don't take a stand, which is very true in this election, is looking at \[Donald\] Trump and fearing reprisal,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/the-other-reason-why-people-don-t-take-a-stand-which-is-very-true-in/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [ It took some time for us to realize that \[people\] didn't particularly say they didn't like us or have the love for us that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/it-took-some-time-for-us-to-realize-that-people-didn-t-particularly/) [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) > [I need somebody who can at least stand up to me and slug it out, toe to toe. I don't mean a physical battle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalyn-murray-o-hair/i-need-somebody-who-can-at-least-stand-up-to-me-and-slug-it-out-toe/) [Madalyn Murray O'Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalyn-murray-o-hair/) > [In this time when a citizenry applauds the liberation of a country as it lives in fear of its own freedom, when people all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/in-this-time-when-a-citizenry-applauds-the-liberation-of-a-country-as/) [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) > [These soldiers had done what they had done, and been done unto in return. This was how it went. In the cycle of slaughter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/these-soldiers-had-done-what-they-had-done-and-been-done-unto-in/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [If we want world peace, we must break the vicious circle of violence and reprisal, of an eye for an eye, of endless hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-maurice-de-zayas/if-we-want-world-peace-we-must-break-the-vicious-circle-of-violence/) [Alfred-Maurice de Zayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-maurice-de-zayas/) > [The spirit of sarcasm lives and thrives in the midst of universal wreck; its balls are enchanted and itself invulnerable, and it braves retaliations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/the-spirit-of-sarcasm-lives-and-thrives-in-the-midst-of-universal/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) ## More by Gerald R. Ford > [My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over. Our Constitution works; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/my-fellow-americans-our-long-national-nightmare-is-over-our/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [One of the enduring truths of the nation's capital is that bureaucrats survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/one-of-the-enduring-truths-of-the-nation-s-capital-is-that/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [The old question still remains: Can a free people restrain crime without sacrificing fundamental liberties and a heritage of compassion?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/the-old-question-still-remains-can-a-free-people-restrain-crime/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [In the firm belief that the American public deserves a better explanation than that thus far given by the Air Force, I strongly recommend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/in-the-firm-belief-that-the-american-public-deserves-a-better/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [The Federal role in overcoming barriers to needed health care should emphasize health care financing programs-such as Medicare and Medicaid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/the-federal-role-in-overcoming-barriers-to-needed-health-care-should/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [America now is stumbling through the darkness of hatred and divisiveness. Our values, our principles, and our determination to succeed as a free and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/america-now-is-stumbling-through-the-darkness-of-hatred-and/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [The political lesson of Watergate is this: Never again must America allow an arrogant, elite guard of political adolescents to by-pass the regular party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/the-political-lesson-of-watergate-is-this-never-again-must-america/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [This is an hour of history that troubles our minds and hurts our hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/this-is-an-hour-of-history-that-troubles-our-minds-and-hurts-our/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [In a democracy, the public has a right to know not only what the government decides, but why and by what process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/in-a-democracy-the-public-has-a-right-to-know-not-only-what-the/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [I had a life-long ambition to be a professional baseball player, but nobody would sign me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/i-had-a-life-long-ambition-to-be-a-professional-baseball-player-but/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [It's more like it is now than it ever has been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/it-s-more-like-it-is-now-than-it-ever-has-been/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [Let America symbolize humanity's struggle to conquer nature and master technology. The time has now come for our Government to facilitate the individual's control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/let-america-symbolize-humanity-s-struggle-to-conquer-nature-and/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [Personal excellence can be achieved by a visionary goal, through planning, dedicated execution, and total follow-through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/personal-excellence-can-be-achieved-by-a-visionary-goal-through/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [Now, therefore, I, Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States, pursuant to the pardon power conferred upon me by Article II, Section 2,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/now-therefore-i-gerald-r-ford-president-of-the-united-states-pursuant/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [I had pro offers from the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, who were pretty hard up for linemen in those days. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/i-had-pro-offers-from-the-detroit-lions-and-green-bay-packers-who/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) [Explore all 157 Gerald R. Ford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) ## More Concern quotes > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [It is not my intention to explain Turkey, its culture and its problems. My literature has a universal concern: I want to bring people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/it-is-not-my-intention-to-explain-turkey-its-culture-and-its-problems/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [I'm a vegetarian - I think there's a strong possibility, had I not become a vegetarian, I would not be working now. I became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barker/i-m-a-vegetarian-i-think-there-s-a-strong-possibility-had-i-not/) [Bob Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barker/) > [What really concerns me is for Christians to understand the fundamentals of evangelism in a way that is helpful in the contemporary scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christians-to-understand-the/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I'm not interested in making a diagnostic novel or a concern. I'm 100 percent committed in fiction to the pleasure principle - that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-m-not-interested-in-making-a-diagnostic-novel-or-a-concern-i-m-100/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. The familiar surroundings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/meanwhile-the-trees-were-just-as-green-as-before-the-birds-sang-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [It concerns me when people frame the conversation about equal pay about the entertainment business. I don't want the wage gap issue to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/it-concerns-me-when-people-frame-the-conversation-about-equal-pay/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other's well-being, is source of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/more-compassionate-mind-more-sense-of-concern-for-other-s-well-being/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [ I just have to deal with it \[injuries\] if and when problems happen. It's obviously a concern and I've been very careful with my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-james/i-just-have-to-deal-with-it-injuries-if-and-when-problems-happen-it-s/) [Greg James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-james/) > [Much has been said and continues to be said of what little concern the Turks had for the Acropolis treasures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-mercouri/much-has-been-said-and-continues-to-be-said-of-what-little-concern/) [Melina Mercouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-mercouri/) Browse all 3,297 Concern quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That, in part, is why the Constitution's framers gave justices life tenure ? to enable them to rule wherever the law and the Constitution led them, without obligation or fear of political reprisal. Former Republican president Gerald Ford recently paid tribute to John Paul Stevens, his only appointee to the Supreme Court, who is also far more liberal than Republicans expected. He has served his nation well, ... with dignity, intellect and without partisan political concerns.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gerald R. Ford" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/that-in-part-is-why-the-constitution-s-framers-gave-justices-life/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Concern" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/that-in-part-is-why-the-constitution-s-framers-gave-justices-life/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b1/gerald-r-ford-2628_concern_that-in-part-is-why-the-constitution-s-f_1227475.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b1/gerald-r-ford-2628_concern_that-in-part-is-why-the-constitution-s-f_1227475.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b1/gerald-r-ford-2628_concern_that-in-part-is-why-the-constitution-s-f_1227475.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That, in part, is why the Constitution's framers gave justices life tenure ? to enable them to rule wherever…” — Gerald R. Ford", "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": "Gerald R. Ford", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That, in part, is why the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/that-in-part-is-why-the-constitution-s-framers-gave-justices-life/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/that-in-part-is-why-the-constitution-s-framers-gave-justices-life/#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 } } ] } ```