--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A bedrock principle of our justice system…" description: "\"A bedrock principle of our justice system is ensuring a fair day in court, something that is especially important for children who cannot advocate for ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/patrick-leahy-9772_children_a-bedrock-principle-of-our-justice-syste_3060023.png" --- # A bedrock principle of our justice system is ensuring a… ![“A bedrock principle of our justice system is ensuring a fair day in court, something that is especially important for children who cannot advocate for themselves.” quote by Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/patrick-leahy-9772_children_a-bedrock-principle-of-our-justice-syste_3060023.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/patrick-leahy-9772_children_a-bedrock-principle-of-our-justice-syste_3060023.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/patrick-leahy-9772_children_a-bedrock-principle-of-our-justice-syste_3060023.png) > “A bedrock principle of our justice system is ensuring a fair day in court, something that is especially important for children who cannot advocate for themselves.” [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Justice must guarantee fair trials, especially for children lacking self‑advocacy. **In simple terms:** Children need protected legal representation. Key Takeaway Advocate for child legal rights. Themes law children’s rights fairness Mood concerned determined Type policy advocacy When to use this quote - family court - child protective services - legal aid programs Key Concepts due process advocacy vulnerable populations Questions to Reflect On - How can courts better protect child voices? - What reforms improve fair representation? A Different Perspective Systemic biases can hinder fairness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-system/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle/) ## Related quotes > [I'm going to continue to do the work we're doing on voter suppression, supporting the work that's being done by Fair Count, ensuring a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-abrams/i-m-going-to-continue-to-do-the-work-we-re-doing-on-voter-suppression/) [Stacey Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-abrams/) > [A defendant on trial for a specific crime is entitled to his day in court, not in a stadium or a city or nationwide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-c-clark/a-defendant-on-trial-for-a-specific-crime-is-entitled-to-his-day-in/) [Tom C. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-c-clark/) > [Please keep an open mind and let me have my day in court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/please-keep-an-open-mind-and-let-me-have-my-day-in-court/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [This is probably as bad a day as the court has had on social issues since Roe vs. Wade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-falwell/this-is-probably-as-bad-a-day-as-the-court-has-had-on-social-issues/) [Jerry Falwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-falwell/) > [I will restore a government based on principle and justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moon-jae-in/i-will-restore-a-government-based-on-principle-and-justice/) [Moon Jae-in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moon-jae-in/) > [“A person who stands in the principle of justice even under person is a just person”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bro-eli-soriano/a-person-who-stands-in-the-principle-of-justice-even-under-person-is/) bro. eli soriano > [An evident principle ... is the principle of justice to all peoples and nationalities, andtheir right to live on equal terms of liberty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/an-evident-principle-is-the-principle-of-justice-to-all-peoples-and/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [“During the era of the rightly-guided Khaleefahs, the Muslim Nation was built on the principle of justice. This is mainly why Muslims were so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-malik-mujahid/during-the-era-of-the-rightly-guided-khaleefahs-the-muslim-nation-was/) Abdul Malik Mujahid > [Everywhere there is one principle of justice, which is the interest of the stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/everywhere-there-is-one-principle-of-justice-which-is-the-interest-of/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [The great principle of Justice: prevent crime rather than punish it. All that is needed to execute a guilty man is a firing squad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusto-roa-bastos/the-great-principle-of-justice-prevent-crime-rather-than-punish-it/) [Augusto Roa Bastos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusto-roa-bastos/) > [There is no sphere in which a human being can be supposed to act where one mode of reasoning will not, in every given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/there-is-no-sphere-in-which-a-human-being-can-be-supposed-to-act/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [ Our search for such \[moral\] principles can start with . . . the unconditional imperative to acknowledge every person as a person. If we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/our-search-for-such-moral-principles-can-start-with-the-unconditional/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [My guiding principle will be justice and complete impartiality, and I am sure that with your support and co-operation, I can look forward to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali-jinnah/my-guiding-principle-will-be-justice-and-complete-impartiality-and-i/) [Muhammad Ali Jinnah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali-jinnah/) > [It is compassion rather than the principle of justice which can guard us against being unjust to our fellow men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/it-is-compassion-rather-than-the-principle-of-justice-which-can-guard/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [God's irony, that in order to fight and defeat the threat of terrorism, we shall have to be clear about the principle of justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/god-s-irony-that-in-order-to-fight-and-defeat-the-threat-of-terrorism/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) ## More by Patrick Leahy > [Trump would either be the Scarecrow or the Joker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/trump-would-either-be-the-scarecrow-or-the-joker/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [Contrary to what some believe, taking all reasonable and feasible precautions to protect civilians - and mitigating the resulting anger when we harm them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/contrary-to-what-some-believe-taking-all-reasonable-and-feasible/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [The rights of copyright holders need to be protected, but some draconian remedies that have been suggested would create more problems than they would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/the-rights-of-copyright-holders-need-to-be-protected-but-some/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [Batman doesn't have any superpowers. He has to use his brain and his courage. That's what always appealed to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/batman-doesn-t-have-any-superpowers-he-has-to-use-his-brain-and-his/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [We've won wars before and we've certainly retained our rights as Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/we-ve-won-wars-before-and-we-ve-certainly-retained-our-rights-as/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [Benjamin Franklin once said, 'A people who would trade liberty for security deserve neither.' I think we can have both. We can keep our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/benjamin-franklin-once-said-a-people-who-would-trade-liberty-for/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [If we harm civilians when it could reasonably have been avoided, and if we fail to fairly and promptly help the innocent victims, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/if-we-harm-civilians-when-it-could-reasonably-have-been-avoided-and/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the number of violent extremist groups has grown across multiple continents. From Syria to Somalia to Pakistan, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/since-the-sept-11-terrorist-attacks-the-number-of-violent-extremist/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [For the church to say that abortion is not acceptable for a Catholic is fine. To say directly or indirectly that on something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/for-the-church-to-say-that-abortion-is-not-acceptable-for-a-catholic/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [In my view it is time to pass a good bill, a fair bill, a comprehensive bill ... Too many have been waiting too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/in-my-view-it-is-time-to-pass-a-good-bill-a-fair-bill-a-comprehensive/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [The appointment of the next Supreme Court justice must be made in the people's interest and in the nation's interest, not in the interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/the-appointment-of-the-next-supreme-court-justice-must-be-made-in-the/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [There have been 111 Justices in the Supreme Court of the United States. Only three have been women. If she is confirmed, Solicitor General…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/there-have-been-111-justices-in-the-supreme-court-of-the-united/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [That the Islamic State is guilty of horrific atrocities is common knowledge. But most Americans seem unaware of the human toll of our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/that-the-islamic-state-is-guilty-of-horrific-atrocities-is-common/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [Justice Sandra Day O'Connor serves as a model Supreme Court justice, widely recognized as a jurist with practical values, a sense of the consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/justice-sandra-day-o-connor-serves-as-a-model-supreme-court-justice/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [Stealing is stealing. I don't care if it's on the Internet or you're breaking into a warehouse somewhere - it's theft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/stealing-is-stealing-i-don-t-care-if-it-s-on-the-internet-or-you-re/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) [Explore all 70 Patrick Leahy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A bedrock principle of our justice system is ensuring a fair day in court, something that is especially important for children who cannot advocate for themselves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Patrick Leahy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/a-bedrock-principle-of-our-justice-system-is-ensuring-a-fair-day-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/a-bedrock-principle-of-our-justice-system-is-ensuring-a-fair-day-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/patrick-leahy-9772_children_a-bedrock-principle-of-our-justice-syste_3060023.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/patrick-leahy-9772_children_a-bedrock-principle-of-our-justice-syste_3060023.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/patrick-leahy-9772_children_a-bedrock-principle-of-our-justice-syste_3060023.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A bedrock principle of our justice system is ensuring a fair day in court, something that is especially…” — Patrick Leahy", "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": "Patrick Leahy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A bedrock principle of our justice...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/a-bedrock-principle-of-our-justice-system-is-ensuring-a-fair-day-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/a-bedrock-principle-of-our-justice-system-is-ensuring-a-fair-day-in/#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 } } ] } ```