--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The judicial branch has, in its finest…" description: "\"The judicial branch has, in its finest hours, stood firmly on the side of individuals against those who would trample their rights.\" — Herb Kohl" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/herb-kohl-25520_branches_the-judicial-branch-has-in-its-finest-ho_2460535.jpg" --- # The judicial branch has, in its finest hours, stood firmly… ![“The judicial branch has, in its finest hours, stood firmly on the side of individuals against those who would trample their rights.” quote by Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/herb-kohl-25520_branches_the-judicial-branch-has-in-its-finest-ho_2460535.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/herb-kohl-25520_branches_the-judicial-branch-has-in-its-finest-ho_2460535.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/herb-kohl-25520_branches_the-judicial-branch-has-in-its-finest-ho_2460535.jpg) > “The judicial branch has, in its finest hours, stood firmly on the side of individuals against those who would trample their rights.” [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The courts protect individual rights against governmental overreach, especially in critical moments. **In simple terms:** Courts defend personal freedoms. Key Takeaway Support judicial vigilance. Themes justice rights government individuals Mood reflective serious Type political legal When to use this quote - legal battles - civil rights protests - policy debates - public hearings Key Concepts constitutional law civil liberties Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens hold courts accountable? - What safeguards protect judicial independence? A Different Perspective Courts may be limited by political pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Finest hour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finest-hour/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Judicial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judicial/) [Judicial branch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judicial-branch/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) ## Related quotes > [A judiciary independent of a king or executive alone, is a good thing; but independence of the will of the nation is a solecism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-judiciary-independent-of-a-king-or-executive-alone-is-a-good-thing/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ . . . \[The Judicial Branch\] may truly be said to have neither FORCE nor WILL, but merely judgment; and must ultimately depend upon… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-judicial-branch-may-truly-be-said-to-have-neither-force-nor-will/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [On the one hand we want to preserve the integrity of the judicial branch, and we want to talk about judicial independence, and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dahlia-lithwick/on-the-one-hand-we-want-to-preserve-the-integrity-of-the-judicial/) [Dahlia Lithwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dahlia-lithwick/) > [Apparently a great many people have forgotten that the framers of our Constitution went to such great effort to create an independent judicial branch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/apparently-a-great-many-people-have-forgotten-that-the-framers-of-our/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [The International Court of Justice (a.k.a. World Court) is the judicial branch of the United Nations and in the early 1990's a campaign started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/the-international-court-of-justice-a-k-a-world-court-is-the-judicial/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [ \[T\]he opinion which gives to the judges the right to decide what laws are constitutional and what not, not only for themselves, in their,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/t-he-opinion-which-gives-to-the-judges-the-right-to-decide-what-laws/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The executive branch has grown too strong, the judicial branch too arrogant and the legislative branch too stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyn-nofziger/the-executive-branch-has-grown-too-strong-the-judicial-branch-too/) [Lyn Nofziger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyn-nofziger/) > [It may seem ironic that the judicial branch preserves its legitimacy through refraining from action on political questions. That concept was put forward best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-brownback/it-may-seem-ironic-that-the-judicial-branch-preserves-its-legitimacy/) [Sam Brownback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-brownback/) > [The most powerful country in world history, which is sure to set its stamp on what follows, placed the entire government (executive, legislative, judicial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-most-powerful-country-in-world-history-which-is-sure-to-set-its/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ \[Nicolas Maduro\] completely controls the judicial branch, controls the courts, has denied their basic rights and the responsibility that the legislative branch has in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/nicolas-maduro-completely-controls-the-judicial-branch-controls-the/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Without any direction from Congress, our judicial branch has unilaterally created and defined qualified immunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-braun/without-any-direction-from-congress-our-judicial-branch-has/) [Mike Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-braun/) > [The germ of dissolution of our federal government is in the constitution of the federal judiciary; an irresponsible body, (for impeachment is scarcely a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-germ-of-dissolution-of-our-federal-government-is-in-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ One single object . . . \[will merit\] the endless gratitude of the society: that of restraining the judges from usurping legislation. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/one-single-object-will-merit-the-endless-gratitude-of-the-society/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is...If two laws conflict with each other, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marshall/it-is-emphatically-the-province-and-duty-of-the-judicial-department/) [John Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marshall/) > [Last year, I was proud to be an original co-sponsor of legislation that would increase federal judges' salaries by more than 40 percent. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-wasserman-schultz/last-year-i-was-proud-to-be-an-original-co-sponsor-of-legislation/) [Debbie Wasserman Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-wasserman-schultz/) ## More by Herb Kohl > [ A nominee \[to Supreme Court\] must possess the competence, character and temperament to serve on the bench. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/a-nominee-to-supreme-court-must-possess-the-competence-character-and/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [Judicial excellence requires an understanding that the law is more than an intellectual game and more than a mental exercise. He or she must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/judicial-excellence-requires-an-understanding-that-the-law-is-more/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [Even as we pour hundreds of billions of dollars into our efforts in the Middle East, there is much that needs to be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/even-as-we-pour-hundreds-of-billions-of-dollars-into-our-efforts-in/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [We need to take steps to strengthen and mend Social Security so that its promise of a secure retirement is just as real for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/we-need-to-take-steps-to-strengthen-and-mend-social-security-so-that/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [Judicial excellence requires candor before confirmation. We are being asked to give the nominee enormous power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/judicial-excellence-requires-candor-before-confirmation-we-are-being/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [We give Supreme Court justices this freedom because we expect them to remain above the pull of politics, to avoid the effects of public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/we-give-supreme-court-justices-this-freedom-because-we-expect-them-to/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [Before we decide to trust you with this power, we ask you to stand before the public and explain your views. Justice may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/before-we-decide-to-trust-you-with-this-power-we-ask-you-to-stand/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [When the President makes something a priority, we see action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/when-the-president-makes-something-a-priority-we-see-action/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [Over the course of more than 200 years, it has found a right to equal education regardless of race. It has guaranteed an attorney…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/over-the-course-of-more-than-200-years-it-has-found-a-right-to-equal/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [We need to fight the plague of the uninsured the way we have fought other threats to our way of life and our basic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/we-need-to-fight-the-plague-of-the-uninsured-the-way-we-have-fought/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [Its time to stop defending a system that is clearly in dire need of reform, stop issuing reports and setting up new roadblocks, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/its-time-to-stop-defending-a-system-that-is-clearly-in-dire-need-of/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [I will vote my hopes and not my fears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/i-will-vote-my-hopes-and-not-my-fears/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [Judicial excellence means that a Supreme Court justice must have a sense of the values from which our core of our political- economic system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/judicial-excellence-means-that-a-supreme-court-justice-must-have-a/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [Whether interpreting the Constitution or filling in the blanks of a law or a regulation, every word of the court's opinion can widen or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/whether-interpreting-the-constitution-or-filling-in-the-blanks-of-a/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [ If confirmed, \[Judge of the Supreme Court\] will write the words that will either broaden or narrow our rights for the rest of your… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/if-confirmed-judge-of-the-supreme-court-will-write-the-words-that/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) [Explore all 23 Herb Kohl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) ## More Branches quotes > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/states-and-the-federal-government-are-coordinate-departments-of-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [In our system of government, the judicial and legislative branches have different roles. Judges are not politicians. Judges must decide cases, not champion causes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/in-our-system-of-government-the-judicial-and-legislative-branches/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [The sugar maple is remarkable for its clean ankle. The groves of these trees looked like vast forest sheds, their branches stoppingshort at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-sugar-maple-is-remarkable-for-its-clean-ankle-the-groves-of-these/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Where is the subject that does not branch out into infinity? For every grain of sand is a mystery; so is every daisy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mountford/where-is-the-subject-that-does-not-branch-out-into-infinity-for-every/) [William Mountford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mountford/) > [You know how this is: if I look at the crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/you-know-how-this-is-if-i-look-at-the-crystal-moon-at-the-red-branch/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [Money is made at Christmas out of holly and mistletoe, but who save the vendors would greatly care if no green branch were procurable?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gissing/money-is-made-at-christmas-out-of-holly-and-mistletoe-but-who-save/) [George Gissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gissing/) > [“The branches do not support the root. But the root supports the branches.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-branches-do-not-support-the-root-but-the-root-supports-the/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [We're the only branch of government that explains itself in writing every time itmakes a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/we-re-the-only-branch-of-government-that-explains-itself-in-writing/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) > [Certainly in the United States, you have a constituency in the form of the weapons laboratories, and you also have the branches of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/certainly-in-the-united-states-you-have-a-constituency-in-the-form-of/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [The impossibility of separating the nomenclature of a science from the science itself, is owing to this, that every branch of physical science must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-lavoisier/the-impossibility-of-separating-the-nomenclature-of-a-science-from/) [Antoine Lavoisier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-lavoisier/) > [ \[The judiciary is\] the least dangerous branch of our government. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-bickel/the-judiciary-is-the-least-dangerous-branch-of-our-government/) Alexander Bickel > [ For some unknown reason, this \[antiabortion\] branch of Christianity cherishes the unborn and hates the living person. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vine-deloria-jr/for-some-unknown-reason-this-antiabortion-branch-of-christianity/) [Vine Deloria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vine-deloria-jr/) > [ \[W\]ar is a question, under our constitution, not of Executive, but of Legislative cognizance. It belongs to Congress to say whether the Nation shall… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/w-ar-is-a-question-under-our-constitution-not-of-executive-but-of/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [The sky is now indelible ink, The branches reft asunder; But you and I we do not shrink; We love the lovely thunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/the-sky-is-now-indelible-ink-the-branches-reft-asunder-but-you-and-i/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [I have always wanted to branch off and become a fashion guru. I want to share my artistic views with the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-mclean/i-have-always-wanted-to-branch-off-and-become-a-fashion-guru-i-want/) [A. J. McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-mclean/) Browse all 1,228 Branches quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The judicial branch has, in its finest hours, stood firmly on the side of individuals against those who would trample their rights.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herb Kohl" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/the-judicial-branch-has-in-its-finest-hours-stood-firmly-on-the-side/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Branches" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/the-judicial-branch-has-in-its-finest-hours-stood-firmly-on-the-side/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/herb-kohl-25520_branches_the-judicial-branch-has-in-its-finest-ho_2460535.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/herb-kohl-25520_branches_the-judicial-branch-has-in-its-finest-ho_2460535.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/herb-kohl-25520_branches_the-judicial-branch-has-in-its-finest-ho_2460535.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The judicial branch has, in its finest hours, stood firmly on the side of individuals against those who…” — Herb Kohl", "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": "Herb Kohl", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The judicial branch has, in its...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/the-judicial-branch-has-in-its-finest-hours-stood-firmly-on-the-side/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/the-judicial-branch-has-in-its-finest-hours-stood-firmly-on-the-side/#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 } } ] } ```