Absurdity Quote by John Adams
“It would be an absurdity for jurors to be required to accept the judge's view of the law, against their own opinion, judgment, and conscience.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Massachusetts Ratifying Convention, 1788
Jurors must retain independent judgment, not be forced to accept a judge’s legal interpretation against conscience.
In simple terms: Jurors should follow conscience, not just a judge’s view.
Key Takeaway
Protect juror independence.
Themes
law
ethics
conscience
Mood
serious
thoughtful
Type
legal
philosophical
When to use this quote
- court deliberations
- jury instructions
- legal education
- public policy debates
Key Concepts
Judicial independence
civic duty
moral judgment
Questions to Reflect On
- When should personal conscience override legal instruction?
- How can courts respect juror autonomy?
A Different Perspective
Balancing uniform law with personal conscience is complex.
![“If the question [before justices of the peace] relate to any point of public liberty, or if it be one of those in which the judges may be suspected of bias, the jury undertake to decide both law and fact.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f8a/thomas-jefferson-43_bias_if-the-question-before-justices-of-the-p_982924.jpg)
![“I will insist the Hebrews have [contributed] more to civilize men than any other nation. If I was an atheist and believed in blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations. They are the most glorious nation…” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e34/john-adams-529_affair_i-will-insist-the-hebrews-have-contribut_104004.jpg)
