Accountability Quote by Randal Marlin
“The special harm attaching to prior restraint is that the government can keep materials from reaching the public, so there can be no accountability, no judgment by the people that the power to suppress was wrongly exercised.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Lecture on Freedom of Speech, 2015
Prior restraint blocks public access, preventing oversight and accountability for governmental suppression.
In simple terms: Government can hide information, avoiding public judgment.
Key Takeaway
Ensure transparency and allow public scrutiny.
Themes
freedom of speech
government accountability
media
censorship
public oversight
Mood
concerned
critical
Type
legal
political
When to use this quote
- court cases
- legislative hearings
- journalistic investigations
- public policy debates
Key Concepts
constitutional law
democratic theory
media ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance security with transparency?
- What mechanisms ensure government accountability?
A Different Perspective
Legal challenges may be limited by national security claims.
