Above the law Quote by Patrick Leahy
![“She [Justice sandra Day O'Connor] wrote - and this is one we should all remember - she wrote that even war is not a blank check for the president when it comes to the rights of the nation's citizens. She held that even this president is not above the law.” quote by Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9df/patrick-leahy-9772_above-the-law_she-justice-sandra-day-o-connor-wrote-an_2466696.jpg)
“She [Justice sandra Day O'Connor] wrote - and this is one we should all remember - she wrote that even war is not a blank check for the president when it comes to the rights of the nation's citizens. She held that even this president is not above the law.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, 1996
The president cannot ignore constitutional rights even during war; law applies to all.
In simple terms: Presidents must obey law even in war.
Key Takeaway
Uphold constitutional limits on executive power.
Themes
rule of law
civil liberties
executive power
war
justice
Mood
serious
concerned
Type
political
legal
reflective
When to use this quote
- military actions
- national emergencies
- policy decisions
- court challenges
Key Concepts
Constitutionalism
checks and balances
human rights
Questions to Reflect On
- How should courts respond when security concerns clash with rights?
- What mechanisms keep leaders accountable during crises?
A Different Perspective
Legal constraints can be weakened by public fear or political pressure.
![“She [Justice sandra Day O'Connor] rejected the [George] Bush administration's claim that it could indefinitely detain a United States citizen. She upheld the fundamental principle of judicial review over the exercise of government power.” quote by Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ffb/patrick-leahy-9772_administration_she-justice-sandra-day-o-connor-rejected_1644248.jpg)
![“She [Justice Sandra Day O'Connor], unlike, Judge Bork, did not think that being on the court would be an "intellectual feast," to quote Judge [Robert Heron] Bork.” quote by Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f93/joe-biden-454_court_she-justice-sandra-day-o-connor-unlike-j_317687.jpg)
![“Justice [Sandra Day] O'Connor has been a guardian of the protections the Constitution provides the American people. She's come to provide balance and a check on government intrusion into our personal privacy and freedoms.” quote by Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0cd/patrick-leahy-9772_american-people_justice-sandra-day-o-connor-has-been-a-g_1943888.jpg)
![“[Sandra Day O'Connor] is a justice whose graciousness and sense of duty fuels her continued service, even agreeing to serve more than six months after her retirement date.” quote by Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fbd/patrick-leahy-9772_duty_sandra-day-o-connor-is-a-justice-whose-g_848557.jpg)
