--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Judges should decide legal disputes…" description: "\"Judges should decide legal disputes. Judges should not make law.\" — Joseph Wapner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91c/joseph-wapner-37476_judges_judges-should-decide-legal-disputes-judg_1133989.jpg" --- # Judges should decide legal disputes. Judges should not… ![“Judges should decide legal disputes. Judges should not make law.” quote by Joseph Wapner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91c/joseph-wapner-37476_judges_judges-should-decide-legal-disputes-judg_1133989.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91c/joseph-wapner-37476_judges_judges-should-decide-legal-disputes-judg_1133989.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91c/joseph-wapner-37476_judges_judges-should-decide-legal-disputes-judg_1133989.jpg) > “Judges should decide legal disputes. Judges should not make law.” [Joseph Wapner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wapner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Judges should interpret and apply existing law, not create new statutes, preserving the separation of powers. **In simple terms:** Judges enforce law, not make it. Key Takeaway Respect judicial limits. Themes law government separation of powers Mood analytical serious Type legal philosophical When to use this quote - courtrooms - legislative debates - policy making - civic education Key Concepts judicial restraint legal theory Questions to Reflect On - Should judges ever fill legislative gaps? - How to balance stability with necessary legal change? A Different Perspective Strict separation may hinder legal evolution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Disputes Judges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disputes-judges-3129713/) [Judges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judges/) [Judges Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judges-decide-934799/) [Judges Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judges-make-1736379/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Legal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legal/) [Legal Disputes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legal-disputes-3129714/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) ## Related quotes > [“I don't consider those competitions fair where judges get to decide the winner, because selected judges quite often are not worthy or qualified enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-don-t-consider-those-competitions-fair-where-judges-get-to-decide/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“The Judges cannot make new law by new decisions; they do not assume a power of that kind: they only endeavour to declare what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-hannan/the-judges-cannot-make-new-law-by-new-decisions-they-do-not-assume-a/) [Daniel Hannan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-hannan/) > [Jurisdictions across the U.S. are snapping up algorithms as tools to help judges make bail and bond decisions. They're being sold as race- and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy/jurisdictions-across-the-u-s-are-snapping-up-algorithms-as-tools-to/) [John Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy/) > [Judges can't make law; judges shouldn't be policy makers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/judges-can-t-make-law-judges-shouldn-t-be-policy-makers/) [Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/) > [Judges make tough decisions on child abuse, divorce, property disputes, drunk driving, domestic violence and other issues that should be free from politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-cooper/judges-make-tough-decisions-on-child-abuse-divorce-property-disputes/) [Roy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-cooper/) > [Judges decide upon copyright law. They decide upon trademark law. They decide upon scientific issues. They decide upon very complex technical issues on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kapil-sibal/judges-decide-upon-copyright-law-they-decide-upon-trademark-law-they/) [Kapil Sibal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kapil-sibal/) > [In my opinion, Chief Justice Roberts put it best during his recent confirmation hearings. And he said, and I quote, "The framers were not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-dewine/in-my-opinion-chief-justice-roberts-put-it-best-during-his-recent/) [Mike DeWine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-dewine/) > [“How can 5 judges decide the best book of the year without reading every book of the year? While some lucky authors can enter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mouloud-benzadi/how-can-5-judges-decide-the-best-book-of-the-year-without-reading/) [Mouloud Benzadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mouloud-benzadi/) > [The Constitution does not trust judges to make determinations of criminal guilt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/the-constitution-does-not-trust-judges-to-make-determinations-of/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [The TV show 'How It's Made' brings the intricate details of assembly lines to numerous North American living rooms. But if the series were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-fantano/the-tv-show-how-it-s-made-brings-the-intricate-details-of-assembly/) [Anthony Fantano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-fantano/) > [One thing I know from personal experience, judges hate it when parties talk publicly about their cases. 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They should,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-coney-barrett/judges-cannot-nor-should-they-try-to-align-our-legal-system-with-the/) [Amy Coney Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-coney-barrett/) > [People think I'm kind and considerate and that I listen and evaluate and give each party a chance to talk. The public's perception of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wapner/people-think-i-m-kind-and-considerate-and-that-i-listen-and-evaluate/) [Joseph Wapner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wapner/) > [I would like beautiful gymnastics to be recognized as the best. I want the judges to appreciate things that are not necessarily winning points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kohei-uchimura/i-would-like-beautiful-gymnastics-to-be-recognized-as-the-best-i-want/) [Kohei Uchimura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kohei-uchimura/) ## More by Joseph Wapner > [People think I'm kind and considerate and that I listen and evaluate and give each party a chance to talk. The public's perception of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wapner/people-think-i-m-kind-and-considerate-and-that-i-listen-and-evaluate/) [Joseph Wapner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wapner/) > [Sometimes I don't even deliberate. I just decide from the bench, it's so obvious. The beautiful part is that I have carte blanche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wapner/sometimes-i-don-t-even-deliberate-i-just-decide-from-the-bench-it-s/) [Joseph Wapner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wapner/) > [I'm just an ordinary judge from California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wapner/i-m-just-an-ordinary-judge-from-california/) [Joseph Wapner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wapner/) > [I was the only Jew who'd ever been elected, and I don't know when there'll be another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wapner/i-was-the-only-jew-who-d-ever-been-elected-and-i-don-t-know-when/) [Joseph Wapner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wapner/) > [When 'The People's Court' came along, I had an opportunity to really teach people about law. It was very important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wapner/when-the-people-s-court-came-along-i-had-an-opportunity-to-really/) [Joseph Wapner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wapner/) > [I'm trying to demystify the whole process. Make it simple, make it palatable. I want people to have respect for the law, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wapner/i-m-trying-to-demystify-the-whole-process-make-it-simple-make-it/) [Joseph Wapner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wapner/) > [A judge is not a god or a king. He has the last word most of the time, but sometimes, one makes mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wapner/a-judge-is-not-a-god-or-a-king-he-has-the-last-word-most-of-the-time/) [Joseph Wapner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wapner/) > [When I was on the bench, I used to have a yellow pad, and I put on the pad at the beginning of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wapner/when-i-was-on-the-bench-i-used-to-have-a-yellow-pad-and-i-put-on-the/) [Joseph Wapner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wapner/) > [I'm not an actor; I'm a judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wapner/i-m-not-an-actor-i-m-a-judge/) [Joseph Wapner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wapner/) > [People say, 'I'm only suing for the principle of the thing,' and I reply that I can't give you principle - only money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wapner/people-say-i-m-only-suing-for-the-principle-of-the-thing-and-i-reply/) [Joseph Wapner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wapner/) > [I realized that a great deal of life is exactly and precisely about being able to feel pain: my own and other people's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wapner/i-realized-that-a-great-deal-of-life-is-exactly-and-precisely-about/) [Joseph Wapner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wapner/) [Explore all 12 Joseph Wapner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wapner/) ## More Constitution quotes > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. 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We are guardian of rights, and we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-bird/the-judiciary-must-not-take-on-the-coloration-of-whatever-may-be/) [Rose Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-bird/) > [There is not a revolution that succe Women are suffering because they are being excluded. The high military council excluded women from the committee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/there-is-not-a-revolution-that-succe-women-are-suffering-because-they/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“The Court has a special responsibility to ensure that the Constitution works in practice. While education, including the transmission of our civic values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/the-court-has-a-special-responsibility-to-ensure-that-the/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) [Joe Pitts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pitts/) > [Nothing from man's hands, nor law, nor constitution, can be final. 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