--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must apply a judicial rather than a…" description: "\"We must apply a judicial rather than a political standard to the information before us [if choosing a Judge].\" — Orrin Hatch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/orrin-hatch-8786_constitution_we-must-apply-a-judicial-rather-than-a-p_1294847.png" --- # We must apply a judicial rather than a political standard… ![“We must apply a judicial rather than a political standard to the information before us [if choosing a Judge].” quote by Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/orrin-hatch-8786_constitution_we-must-apply-a-judicial-rather-than-a-p_1294847.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/orrin-hatch-8786_constitution_we-must-apply-a-judicial-rather-than-a-p_1294847.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/orrin-hatch-8786_constitution_we-must-apply-a-judicial-rather-than-a-p_1294847.png) > “We must apply a judicial rather than a political standard to the information before us \[if choosing a Judge\].” [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. Judges should be evaluated by legal standards, not political agendas, to ensure impartial justice. **In simple terms:** Legal, over political bias. Key Takeaway Advocate for merit‑based judicial selection. Themes law politics justice Mood serious thoughtful Type policy educational When to use this quote - court nominations - legislative debates - public policy forums Key Concepts judicial independence meritocracy separation of powers Questions to Reflect On - How can we protect judges from political pressure? - What safeguards ensure impartial rulings? A Different Perspective Political realities often influence appointments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 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/) ## Related quotes > [We must apply a judicial, not a political, standard to this record. Asking a judicial nominee whose side you will be on in future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/we-must-apply-a-judicial-not-a-political-standard-to-this-record/) [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/) > [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/) > [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 debate over judicial nominations is a debate over the judiciary itself. It is a debate over how much power unelected judges should have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/the-debate-over-judicial-nominations-is-a-debate-over-the-judiciary/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [No matter how badly senators want to know things, judicial nominees are limited in what they may discuss. That limitation is real, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/no-matter-how-badly-senators-want-to-know-things-judicial-nominees/) [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [This principle that judges are not politicians lies at the very heart of a judicial job - of the judicial job description.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/this-principle-that-judges-are-not-politicians-lies-at-the-very-heart/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [Men decide far more problems by hate, love, lust, rage, sorrow, joy, hope, fear, illusion or some other inward emotion, than by reality, authority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/men-decide-far-more-problems-by-hate-love-lust-rage-sorrow-joy-hope/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is important that Miers not be confirmed unless, in her 61st year, she suddenly and unexpectedly is found to have hitherto undisclosed interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/it-is-important-that-miers-not-be-confirmed-unless-in-her-61st-year/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) ## 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. Truth alone is final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/nothing-from-man-s-hands-nor-law-nor-constitution-can-be-final-truth/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) > [“I am apprehensive, Sir, that in the warmth of my feelings, I may have uttered expressions, which were too vehement. 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": "We must apply a judicial rather than a political standard to the information before us [if choosing a Judge].", "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-rather-than-a-political-standard-to-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Constitution" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/we-must-apply-a-judicial-rather-than-a-political-standard-to-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/orrin-hatch-8786_constitution_we-must-apply-a-judicial-rather-than-a-p_1294847.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/orrin-hatch-8786_constitution_we-must-apply-a-judicial-rather-than-a-p_1294847.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/orrin-hatch-8786_constitution_we-must-apply-a-judicial-rather-than-a-p_1294847.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We must apply a judicial rather than a political standard to the information before us [if choosing a Judge].” — 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 rather...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/we-must-apply-a-judicial-rather-than-a-political-standard-to-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/we-must-apply-a-judicial-rather-than-a-political-standard-to-the/#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 } } ] } ```