---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must apply a judicial, not a…"
description: "\"We must apply a judicial, not a political, standard to this record. Asking a judicial nominee whose side you will be on in future cases is a political ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27b/orrin-hatch-8786_asking_we-must-apply-a-judicial-not-a-political_1776261.png"
---

#  We must apply a judicial, not a political, standard to…

![“We must apply a judicial, not a political, standard to this record. Asking a judicial nominee whose side you will be on in future cases is a political standard.” quote by Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27b/orrin-hatch-8786_asking_we-must-apply-a-judicial-not-a-political_1776261.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27b/orrin-hatch-8786_asking_we-must-apply-a-judicial-not-a-political_1776261.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27b/orrin-hatch-8786_asking_we-must-apply-a-judicial-not-a-political_1776261.png)

> “We must apply a judicial, not a political, standard to this record. Asking a judicial nominee whose side you will be on in future cases is a political standard.”

[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 speaker argues that judicial nominations should be evaluated on legal qualifications, not political allegiance, to preserve impartiality.

**In simple terms:** Judicial appointments must be non‑political.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize merit over partisanship.

Themes

law politics judiciary ethics governance

Mood

cautious critical thoughtful

Type

analytical reflective

When to use this quote

- nomination committees
- public hearings
- media scrutiny
- legal education

Key Concepts

judicial independence meritocracy political bias constitutional law

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we ensure truly impartial judges?
- What safeguards exist against politicized appointments?

A Different Perspective

Political realities often influence nominations despite ideals.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Apply Judicial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apply-judicial-1823189/) [Asking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/) [Asking Judicial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking-judicial-1823187/) [Cases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cases/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Judicial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judicial/) [Judicial Nominee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judicial-nominee-1823188/) [Judicial Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judicial-political-1660338/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political Standard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-standard-1823190/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/)

## Related quotes

> [ We must apply a judicial rather than a political standard to the information before us \[if choosing a Judge\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/we-must-apply-a-judicial-rather-than-a-political-standard-to-the/)

[Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/)

> [ We must use a judicial, rather than a political, standard to evaluate \[a nominee's\] fitness for the Supreme Court. That standard must be based… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/we-must-use-a-judicial-rather-than-a-political-standard-to-evaluate-a/)

[Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/)

> [Any judicial nominee who has said that the Constitution means what it says, not what judges would like it to mean, is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/any-judicial-nominee-who-has-said-that-the-constitution-means-what-it/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [We call on the Senate to reject any judicial nominee who does not affirm fundamental civil rights, including a woman's right \[to obtain an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susana-martinez/we-call-on-the-senate-to-reject-any-judicial-nominee-who-does-not/)

[Susana Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susana-martinez/)

> [I would never filibuster any President’s judicial nominee, period. I might vote against them, but I will always see they came to a vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/i-would-never-filibuster-any-president-s-judicial-nominee-period-i/)

[Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/)

> [We've always said a filibuster is not appropriate for judicial nominees. A filibuster is a legislative tool designed to extract compromises. A judicial nominee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-long/we-ve-always-said-a-filibuster-is-not-appropriate-for-judicial/)

[Wendy Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-long/)

> [There is no maxim, in my opinion, which is more liable to be misapplied, and which, therefore, more needs elucidation, than the current one,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/there-is-no-maxim-in-my-opinion-which-is-more-liable-to-be-misapplied/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [The Senate should consider a rule ensuring that every judicial nominee receives a vote by the Senate within 180 days of being nominated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-kavanaugh/the-senate-should-consider-a-rule-ensuring-that-every-judicial/)

[Brett Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-kavanaugh/)

> [A judicial standard means that a judicious decision can be entirely correct, even when the result does not line up with our preferred political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/a-judicial-standard-means-that-a-judicious-decision-can-be-entirely/)

[Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/)

> [Scorecards are common in the political process, but they are inappropriate in the judicial process. The most important tools in the judicial confirmation process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/scorecards-are-common-in-the-political-process-but-they-are/)

[Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/)

> [We must remember that judicial nominees are constrained in what they may discuss and how they may discuss it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/we-must-remember-that-judicial-nominees-are-constrained-in-what-they/)

[Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/)

> [We should evaluate judges and judicial nominees based on the general process for applying the law to any legal disputes, not on the specific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/we-should-evaluate-judges-and-judicial-nominees-based-on-the-general/)

[Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/)

> [Because judges may not issue advisory opinions, judicial nominees may not do so either, especially on issues likely to come before the court. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/because-judges-may-not-issue-advisory-opinions-judicial-nominees-may/)

[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/)

> [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/)

## 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 Asking quotes

> [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/)

[Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/)

> [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [“Stop asking yourself how or why and tell yourself you can." - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/stop-asking-yourself-how-or-why-and-tell-yourself-you-can-charmainism/)

[Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/)

> [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/)

[J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/)

> [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/)

[Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/)

> [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/)

[Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/)

> [You never give away your heart; you lend it from time to time. If it were not so, how could we take it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-never-give-away-your-heart-you-lend-it-from-time-to-time-if-it/)

[Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/)

> [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/)

[Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/)

> [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/)

[Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/)

> [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/)

[Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/)

> [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/)

[Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/)

> [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/)

[Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/)

> [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/)

[Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/)

> [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/)

[Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/)

> [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/)

[Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/)

[Browse all 3,313 Asking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We must apply a judicial, not a political, standard to this record. Asking a judicial nominee whose side you will be on in future cases is a political standard.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Orrin Hatch"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/we-must-apply-a-judicial-not-a-political-standard-to-this-record/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Asking"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/we-must-apply-a-judicial-not-a-political-standard-to-this-record/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27b/orrin-hatch-8786_asking_we-must-apply-a-judicial-not-a-political_1776261.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27b/orrin-hatch-8786_asking_we-must-apply-a-judicial-not-a-political_1776261.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27b/orrin-hatch-8786_asking_we-must-apply-a-judicial-not-a-political_1776261.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We must apply a judicial, not a political, standard to this record. Asking a judicial nominee whose side you…” — 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": "We must apply a judicial, not...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/we-must-apply-a-judicial-not-a-political-standard-to-this-record/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/we-must-apply-a-judicial-not-a-political-standard-to-this-record/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
