--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Scorecards are common in the political…" description: "\"Scorecards are common in the political process, but they are inappropriate in the judicial process. The most important tools in the judicial confirmati..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6d/orrin-hatch-8786_calculators_scorecards-are-common-in-the-political-p_1214751.jpg" --- # Scorecards are common in the political process, but they… ![“Scorecards are common in the political process, but they are inappropriate in the judicial process. The most important tools in the judicial confirmation process are not litmus paper and a calculator.” quote by Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6d/orrin-hatch-8786_calculators_scorecards-are-common-in-the-political-p_1214751.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6d/orrin-hatch-8786_calculators_scorecards-are-common-in-the-political-p_1214751.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6d/orrin-hatch-8786_calculators_scorecards-are-common-in-the-political-p_1214751.jpg) > “Scorecards are common in the political process, but they are inappropriate in the judicial process. The most important tools in the judicial confirmation process are not litmus paper and a calculator.” [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. Political scorecards simplify complex judicial qualifications, which can mislead decision‑making. **In simple terms:** Scorecards oversimplify judges. Key Takeaway Focus on nuanced evaluation of judges. Themes judicial process politics evaluation Mood critical analytical Type political legal When to use this quote - senate hearings - media analysis - public opinion - legal appointments Key Concepts criteria bias complexity Questions to Reflect On - How can we assess judges beyond metrics? - What risks arise from oversimplification? A Different Perspective Scorecards may ignore substantive legal philosophy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Judicial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judicial/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) ## Related quotes > [We do not need a heavy theoretical thumb on the scales. What's important is how the traditional sources of law and legal interpretation -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-s-sykes/we-do-not-need-a-heavy-theoretical-thumb-on-the-scales-what-s/) [Diane S. Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-s-sykes/) > [The confidentiality of the judicial process would not matter greatly to an understanding and evaluation of the legal system if the consequences of judicial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-posner/the-confidentiality-of-the-judicial-process-would-not-matter-greatly/) [Richard Posner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-posner/) > [The Constitution guarantees due process, not judicial process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/the-constitution-guarantees-due-process-not-judicial-process/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [A judge sometimes must release a criminal. He doesn't like it, she doesn't like it, but the law requires it. And the context of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/a-judge-sometimes-must-release-a-criminal-he-doesn-t-like-it-she/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [Everyone knows that due process means judicial process, and when John Brennan brings him a list of people to be killed this particular week,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/everyone-knows-that-due-process-means-judicial-process-and-when-john/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [A judge sworn to decide impartially can offer no forecasts, no hints, for that would show not only disregard for the specifics of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/a-judge-sworn-to-decide-impartially-can-offer-no-forecasts-no-hints/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [I'll refrain from making any more comments on any ongoing people involved in the judicial process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-belichick/i-ll-refrain-from-making-any-more-comments-on-any-ongoing-people/) [Bill Belichick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-belichick/) > [I'm not going to be able to talk about the people who are involved specifically in any ongoing judicial process. We do the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-belichick/i-m-not-going-to-be-able-to-talk-about-the-people-who-are-involved/) [Bill Belichick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-belichick/) > [Due process and judicial process are not one and the same, particularly when it comes to national security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/due-process-and-judicial-process-are-not-one-and-the-same/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [Yet far from putting any meaningful constraints on law enforcement in this war, the U.S. Supreme Court has given the police license to stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/yet-far-from-putting-any-meaningful-constraints-on-law-enforcement-in/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [Now, how do you explain Obama's claim, that he can kill American citizens without due process? Well, he has his attorney general get up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/now-how-do-you-explain-obama-s-claim-that-he-can-kill-american/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [Some have argued that the President is required to get permission from a federal court before taking action against a United States citizen who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/some-have-argued-that-the-president-is-required-to-get-permission/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [Calculators can only calculate - they cannot do mathematics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-van-de-walle/calculators-can-only-calculate-they-cannot-do-mathematics/) John A. Van de Walle > [Look, this is a man, he's got great numbers. He talks about numbers. I'm beginning to think not only did he invent the Internet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/look-this-is-a-man-he-s-got-great-numbers-he-talks-about-numbers-i-m/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [In our society we have hard nerds and soft nerds. The hard nerds are the ones who used to have the slide rules at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/in-our-society-we-have-hard-nerds-and-soft-nerds-the-hard-nerds-are/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) ## 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 Calculators quotes > [In our society we have hard nerds and soft nerds. The hard nerds are the ones who used to have the slide rules at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/in-our-society-we-have-hard-nerds-and-soft-nerds-the-hard-nerds-are/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Look, this is a man, he's got great numbers. He talks about numbers. I'm beginning to think not only did he invent the Internet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/look-this-is-a-man-he-s-got-great-numbers-he-talks-about-numbers-i-m/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Calculators can only calculate - they cannot do mathematics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-van-de-walle/calculators-can-only-calculate-they-cannot-do-mathematics/) John A. Van de Walle > [My fellow nerds and I will retire to the nerdery with our calculators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spade/my-fellow-nerds-and-i-will-retire-to-the-nerdery-with-our-calculators/) [David Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spade/) > [Electronic calculators can solve problems which the man who made them cannot solve; but no government subsidised commission of engineers and physicists could create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wood-krutch/electronic-calculators-can-solve-problems-which-the-man-who-made-them/) [Joseph Wood Krutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wood-krutch/) > [Fighting emotion with logic is like bringing a calculator to a knife fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-sundquist/fighting-emotion-with-logic-is-like-bringing-a-calculator-to-a-knife/) [Josh Sundquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-sundquist/) > [Value investing is at its core the marriage of a contrarian streak and a calculator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-klarman/value-investing-is-at-its-core-the-marriage-of-a-contrarian-streak/) [Seth Klarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-klarman/) > [I am not personally a parent. But I do have two godchildren and am expecting a third. I am naturally concerned for their future.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-am-not-personally-a-parent-but-i-do-have-two-godchildren-and-am/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [People think that the arts are optional and they aren't. They teach a level of emotional depth that's equally important to mathematic skill. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-sparks/people-think-that-the-arts-are-optional-and-they-aren-t-they-teach-a/) [Hal Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-sparks/) > [No Geologist worth anything is permanently bound to a desk or laboratory, but the charming notion that true science can only be based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/no-geologist-worth-anything-is-permanently-bound-to-a-desk-or/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [Nature hates calculators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/nature-hates-calculators/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [People say I talk slowly. I talk in a way sometimes called laconic. The phone rings, I answer, and people ask if they've woken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/people-say-i-talk-slowly-i-talk-in-a-way-sometimes-called-laconic-the/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [A lot of people... use a calculator!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/a-lot-of-people-use-a-calculator/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [It is known, to the force of a single pound weight, what the engine will do; but, not all the calculators of the National…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/it-is-known-to-the-force-of-a-single-pound-weight-what-the-engine/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Should I not be proud, when for twenty years I have had to admit to myself that the great Newton and all the mathematicians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/should-i-not-be-proud-when-for-twenty-years-i-have-had-to-admit-to/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) Browse all 46 Calculators quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Scorecards are common in the political process, but they are inappropriate in the judicial process. 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