--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Judges who take the law into their own…" description: "\"Judges who take the law into their own hands, who make up constitutional 'rights' in order to strike down laws they oppose, undermine the people's righ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/orrin-hatch-8786_constitution_judges-who-take-the-law-into-their-own-h_525110.png" --- # Judges who take the law into their own hands, who make up… ![“Judges who take the law into their own hands, who make up constitutional 'rights' in order to strike down laws they oppose, undermine the people's right to have their values shape public policy and define the culture.” quote by Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/orrin-hatch-8786_constitution_judges-who-take-the-law-into-their-own-h_525110.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/orrin-hatch-8786_constitution_judges-who-take-the-law-into-their-own-h_525110.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/orrin-hatch-8786_constitution_judges-who-take-the-law-into-their-own-h_525110.png) > “Judges who take the law into their own hands, who make up constitutional 'rights' in order to strike down laws they oppose, undermine the people's right to have their values shape public policy and define the culture.” [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that judges who legislate from the bench erode democratic values and cultural autonomy. **In simple terms:** Judges overstepping threaten democracy. Key Takeaway Respect separation of powers. Themes judicial activism democracy culture Mood critical concerned Type political philosophical When to use this quote - court rulings - legislative debates - public policy Key Concepts constitutional law political theory Questions to Reflect On - Should judges ever interpret beyond text? - How to protect cultural values without undermining law? A Different Perspective Balancing judicial independence with accountability is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitutional rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitutional-rights/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Public policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-policy/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [If you undermine people's confidence, they turn up at the contest trying to get second place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/if-you-undermine-people-s-confidence-they-turn-up-at-the-contest/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [Let us not be carried away by the undisguised agitations of leaders who virtually asked people to take the law into their own hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-marcos/let-us-not-be-carried-away-by-the-undisguised-agitations-of-leaders/) [Ferdinand Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-marcos/) > [There are many who condemn my crew and I for taking the law into our own hands and for taking on the barons of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/there-are-many-who-condemn-my-crew-and-i-for-taking-the-law-into-our/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [“Our government says people must not take law in their own hands, But has given the law in the hands of people who in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/our-government-says-people-must-not-take-law-in-their-own-hands-but/) De philosopher DJ Kyos > [There have to be consequences for police who take the law into their own hands. There has to be a shift in the use-of-force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/there-have-to-be-consequences-for-police-who-take-the-law-into-their/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [“Anyone shall take law in their hands, but not a judge and I call it as professional ethics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/anyone-shall-take-law-in-their-hands-but-not-a-judge-and-i-call-it-as/) [P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/) > [“All the law is not in the hands of Giant Despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-the-law-is-not-in-the-hands-of-giant-despair/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We must not be guilty of taking the law into our own hands, and converting it from what it really is to what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/we-must-not-be-guilty-of-taking-the-law-into-our-own-hands-and/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [In 'Maatr,' we do not justify taking the law into our hands. That's not the right thing to do. We are not promoting that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raveena-tandon/in-maatr-we-do-not-justify-taking-the-law-into-our-hands-that-s-not/) [Raveena Tandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raveena-tandon/) > [“Taking the law into your own hands, fuck what's wrong with that?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/taking-the-law-into-your-own-hands-fuck-what-s-wrong-with-that/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Whenever men take the law into their own hands, the loser is the law. And when the law loses, freedom languishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kennedy/whenever-men-take-the-law-into-their-own-hands-the-loser-is-the-law/) [Robert Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kennedy/) > [“We hold there is no worse enemy to a state than he who keeps the law in his own hands.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/we-hold-there-is-no-worse-enemy-to-a-state-than-he-who-keeps-the-law/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [President Bush has asserted the right to wiretap and eavesdrop on any American without a warrant in the name of fighting terrorism. He has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/president-bush-has-asserted-the-right-to-wiretap-and-eavesdrop-on-any/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [I went to Ferguson and walked with the demonstrators and saw this heavily armed police force, tactical units pointing sniper rifles at my constituents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lacy-clay-jr/i-went-to-ferguson-and-walked-with-the-demonstrators-and-saw-this/) [William Lacy Clay, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lacy-clay-jr/) > [I think that, as Americans, we should never forget that when we tamper with freedom of speech, it is a very sensitive issue that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/i-think-that-as-americans-we-should-never-forget-that-when-we-tamper/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) ## More by Orrin Hatch > [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 First Amendment is not an altar on which we must sacrifice our children, families, and community standards. Obscene material that is not protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/the-first-amendment-is-not-an-altar-on-which-we-must-sacrifice-our/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [Today America lost a great elder statesman, a committed public servant, and leader of the Senate. And today I lost a treasured friend. Ted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/today-america-lost-a-great-elder-statesman-a-committed-public-servant/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [I believe in the separation of powers. If a judge crosses the line between interpreting and making the law, he has crossed the line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/i-believe-in-the-separation-of-powers-if-a-judge-crosses-the-line/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [All I can say is God loves this country. We all know it. We wouldn't be where we are without him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/all-i-can-say-is-god-loves-this-country-we-all-know-it-we-wouldn-t-be/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [As your Senator, I always fought the fight for those who could not fight for themselves, and I believe the results speak for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/as-your-senator-i-always-fought-the-fight-for-those-who-could-not/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [Maybe I should get back to the music-writing phase and write one on tax reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/maybe-i-should-get-back-to-the-music-writing-phase-and-write-one-on/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [Every good fighter knows when to hang up the gloves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/every-good-fighter-knows-when-to-hang-up-the-gloves/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [It's high time to address research into medical marijuana. Our country has experimented with a variety of state solutions without properly delving into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/it-s-high-time-to-address-research-into-medical-marijuana-our-country/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [As was noted in the Wall Street Journal, last March 21st, FDA approval of drug labelling, '...requires seven to ten years, and costs each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/as-was-noted-in-the-wall-street-journal-last-march-21st-fda-approval/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [If gun laws in fact worked, the sponsors of this type of legislation should have no difficulty drawing upon long lists of examples of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/if-gun-laws-in-fact-worked-the-sponsors-of-this-type-of-legislation/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [Under the Constitution, the president, not the Senate, nominates and appoints judges. The Senate has a different role. We must give our advice .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/under-the-constitution-the-president-not-the-senate-nominates-and/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [We're going to find out who did this and we're going after the bastards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/we-re-going-to-find-out-who-did-this-and-we-re-going-after-the/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [Ending up in the right place in this debate requires starting in the right place. The right place to start is the proper discrimination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/ending-up-in-the-right-place-in-this-debate-requires-starting-in-the/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [I do not think it is any benefit for artists or fans to have all the new, wide distribution channels in the online world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/i-do-not-think-it-is-any-benefit-for-artists-or-fans-to-have-all-the/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) [Explore all 78 Orrin Hatch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) ## More Constitution quotes > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [While not widely reported, our victories in Iraq are plentiful. National elections, a democratic parliament and the drafting of a constitution are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/while-not-widely-reported-our-victories-in-iraq-are-plentiful/) [Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/) > [In a recent decision of the Supreme Court, not made, however, by the full court, and concurred in by only four justices, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bates-clark/in-a-recent-decision-of-the-supreme-court-not-made-however-by-the/) [John Bates Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bates-clark/) > [The judiciary must not take on the coloration of whatever may be popular at the moment. 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 > [Nothing from man's hands, nor law, nor constitution, can be final. 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If such has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/i-am-apprehensive-sir-that-in-the-warmth-of-my-feelings-i-may-have/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Conservative political opinion in America cleaves to the tradition of the judge as passive interpreter, believing that his absolute loyalty to authoritative law is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/conservative-political-opinion-in-america-cleaves-to-the-tradition-of/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) [Browse all 4,507 Constitution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Judges who take the law into their own hands, who make up constitutional 'rights' in order to strike down laws they oppose, undermine the people's right to have their values shape public policy and define the culture.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Orrin Hatch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/judges-who-take-the-law-into-their-own-hands-who-make-up/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Constitution" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/judges-who-take-the-law-into-their-own-hands-who-make-up/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/orrin-hatch-8786_constitution_judges-who-take-the-law-into-their-own-h_525110.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/orrin-hatch-8786_constitution_judges-who-take-the-law-into-their-own-h_525110.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/orrin-hatch-8786_constitution_judges-who-take-the-law-into-their-own-h_525110.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Judges who take the law into their own hands, who make up constitutional 'rights' in order to strike down…” — Orrin Hatch", "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": "Orrin Hatch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Judges who take the law into...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/judges-who-take-the-law-into-their-own-hands-who-make-up/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/judges-who-take-the-law-into-their-own-hands-who-make-up/#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 } } ] } ```