--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It happens every once in awhile at the…" description: "\"It happens every once in awhile at the federal level when the solicitor general, on behalf of the U.S., will confess error or decline to defend a law. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/ted-olson-28366_administration_it-happens-every-once-in-awhile-at-the-f_334545.jpg" --- # It happens every once in awhile at the federal level when… ![“It happens every once in awhile at the federal level when the solicitor general, on behalf of the U.S., will confess error or decline to defend a law. I don't know what is going through the [Obama] administration's thought process on 'don't ask, don't tell.' It would be appropriate for them to say…” quote by Ted Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/ted-olson-28366_administration_it-happens-every-once-in-awhile-at-the-f_334545.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/ted-olson-28366_administration_it-happens-every-once-in-awhile-at-the-f_334545.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/ted-olson-28366_administration_it-happens-every-once-in-awhile-at-the-f_334545.jpg) > “It happens every once in awhile at the federal level when the solicitor general, on behalf of the U.S., will confess error or decline to defend a law. I don't know what is going through the \[Obama\] administration's thought process on 'don't ask, don't tell.' It would be appropriate for them to say 'the law has been deemed unconstitutional, we are not going to seek further review of that.'” [Ted Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-olson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Officials sometimes admit legal errors instead of defending unconstitutional laws, reflecting strategic choices in governance. **In simple terms:** Govt may admit mistakes instead of defending laws. Key Takeaway Consider strategic admission of error. Themes law government strategy Mood cautious analytical Type political legal When to use this quote - legal reviews - policy decisions - public statements Key Concepts constitutional law political strategy Questions to Reflect On - When is admission more beneficial than defense? - How does this affect public trust? A Different Perspective May undermine confidence in legal consistency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [Decline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decline/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Obama administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obama-administration/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Solicitors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solicitors/) [Thought process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-process/) ## Related quotes > [Very quickly the lawyers in the Justice Department pulled together a set of recommendations about how we ought to defend the law as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-verrilli-jr/very-quickly-the-lawyers-in-the-justice-department-pulled-together-a/) [Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-verrilli-jr/) > [The very idea of marriage is basic to recognition as equals in our society any status short of that is inferior, unjust, and unconstitutional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-olson/the-very-idea-of-marriage-is-basic-to-recognition-as-equals-in-our/) [Ted Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-olson/) > [“I had never met these solicitors and never met Divney but they were really all working for me and my father had paid in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flann-o-brien/i-had-never-met-these-solicitors-and-never-met-divney-but-they-were/) [Flann O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flann-o-brien/) > [ Donald Verrilli has argued 37 cases in five years on behalf of the \[Barak\] Obama administration. Many of them turned out to be truly… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dahlia-lithwick/donald-verrilli-has-argued-37-cases-in-five-years-on-behalf-of-the/) [Dahlia Lithwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dahlia-lithwick/) > [In England if something goes wrong--say, if one finds a skunk in the garden--he writes to the family solicitor, who proceeds to take the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/in-england-if-something-goes-wrong-say-if-one-finds-a-skunk-in-the/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [When we're not a party, we sometimes file as amicus, as friend of the court, 25, 30 times a term, sometimes more. And in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-verrilli-jr/when-we-re-not-a-party-we-sometimes-file-as-amicus-as-friend-of-the/) [Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-verrilli-jr/) > [I was not a community organizer before I was elected to the Senate, i spent five and a half years as the solicitor-general of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-was-not-a-community-organizer-before-i-was-elected-to-the-senate-i/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Much of the work legal executives do has to be supervised by a solicitor, irrespective of the experience or ability of the individual. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-raab/much-of-the-work-legal-executives-do-has-to-be-supervised-by-a/) [Dominic Raab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-raab/) > [Frankly, the people probably most interested in having computer lists on disk are junk mail vendors and solicitors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hughes/frankly-the-people-probably-most-interested-in-having-computer-lists/) [Karen Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hughes/) > [A man whose desire is to be something separate from himself, to be a member of Parliament, or a successful grocer, or a prominent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/a-man-whose-desire-is-to-be-something-separate-from-himself-to-be-a/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I used to say that, as Solicitor General, I made three arguments of every case. First came the one that I planned-as I thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-jackson/i-used-to-say-that-as-solicitor-general-i-made-three-arguments-of/) [Robert H. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-jackson/) > [Ministers must not be able to set rules governing solicitors on a whim, to suit their own requirements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-martin/ministers-must-not-be-able-to-set-rules-governing-solicitors-on-a/) [Kevin Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-martin/) > [Whenever you wish to do anything against the law, Cicely, always consult a good solicitor first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/whenever-you-wish-to-do-anything-against-the-law-cicely-always/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [There are three necessary elements in a story - exposition, development, and drama. Exposition we may illustrate as "John Fortescue was a solicitor in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-o-connor/there-are-three-necessary-elements-in-a-story-exposition-development/) [Frank O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-o-connor/) > [Equity sends questions to Law. Law sends questions back to equity; Law finds it can't do this, equity finds it can't do that; neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/equity-sends-questions-to-law-law-sends-questions-back-to-equity-law/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) ## More by Ted Olson > [She said it had been hijacked shortly after takeoff. By this time, the plane had been in the air - again, I'm presuming that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-olson/she-said-it-had-been-hijacked-shortly-after-takeoff-by-this-time-the/) [Ted Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-olson/) > [No one aspires as a child to grow up and enter into a domestic partnership. But they do aspire as children to grow up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-olson/no-one-aspires-as-a-child-to-grow-up-and-enter-into-a-domestic/) [Ted Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-olson/) > [The Supreme Court has said that: Marriage is the most important relation in life. Now that's being withheld from the plaintiffs. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-olson/the-supreme-court-has-said-that-marriage-is-the-most-important/) [Ted Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-olson/) > [The calls that I have received from President Bush and Vice President Cheney, the fact that there are other people that are suffering every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-olson/the-calls-that-i-have-received-from-president-bush-and-vice-president/) [Ted Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-olson/) > [The plane took off at 8:10 in the morning - or that's when it was scheduled to take off. And that's when I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-olson/the-plane-took-off-at-8-10-in-the-morning-or-that-s-when-it-was/) [Ted Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-olson/) > [I immediately called the command center of the Department of Justice to let them know that my wife was on a plane that had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-olson/i-immediately-called-the-command-center-of-the-department-of-justice/) [Ted Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-olson/) > [These individuals are tyrants, and so they hate democracy. They are bigots, zealots, and persecutors, and so they hate Americas freedom tolerance, and respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-olson/these-individuals-are-tyrants-and-so-they-hate-democracy-they-are/) [Ted Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-olson/) > [The reality is that our independent judiciary is the most respected branch of our government and the envy of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-olson/the-reality-is-that-our-independent-judiciary-is-the-most-respected/) [Ted Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-olson/) > [It's easy to imagine an infinite number of situations where the government might legitimately give out false information,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-olson/it-s-easy-to-imagine-an-infinite-number-of-situations-where-the/) [Ted Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-olson/) > [The very idea of marriage is basic to recognition as equals in our society any status short of that is inferior, unjust, and unconstitutional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-olson/the-very-idea-of-marriage-is-basic-to-recognition-as-equals-in-our/) [Ted Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-olson/) > [I wanted it not to be true. I wanted it not to be her plane. I wanted it - I wanted, if it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-olson/i-wanted-it-not-to-be-true-i-wanted-it-not-to-be-her-plane-i-wanted/) [Ted Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-olson/) > [My wife had taken off on a plane. Two airplanes had crashed into the World Trade Center. I, of course, like any other person,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-olson/my-wife-had-taken-off-on-a-plane-two-airplanes-had-crashed-into-the/) [Ted Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-olson/) > [You have to take strength from the people that love you and the people that love Barbara and the huge number of expressions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-olson/you-have-to-take-strength-from-the-people-that-love-you-and-the/) [Ted Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-olson/) > [Would you like Fox's right to free press put up to a vote and say: "Well, if five states have approved it, let's wait…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-olson/would-you-like-fox-s-right-to-free-press-put-up-to-a-vote-and-say/) [Ted Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-olson/) > [Well, she managed to - Barbara was capable of doing practically anything if she set her mind to it. In retrospect, I'm not surprised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-olson/well-she-managed-to-barbara-was-capable-of-doing-practically-anything/) [Ted Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-olson/) [Explore all 19 Ted Olson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-olson/) ## More Administration quotes > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you want to serve in a Trump administration, you're going to serve this country, not yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/if-you-want-to-serve-in-a-trump-administration-you-re-going-to-serve/) [Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/) > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [I don't believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-don-t-believe-anyone-that-i-know-in-the-administration-ever-said/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [What was unique about me being in City Hall during the Giuliani Administration, I was the only one who wasn't an attorney. I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/what-was-unique-about-me-being-in-city-hall-during-the-giuliani/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [The Trump administration launched the cruise missile strikes in Syria, an act of war, without a U.N. resolution or Congressional authorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-trump-administration-launched-the-cruise-missile-strikes-in-syria/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The only way I'll ever run a marathon is if I'm involved in the administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/the-only-way-i-ll-ever-run-a-marathon-is-if-i-m-involved-in-the/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [Obama spent the first two years of his administration practicing political unilateral disarmament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/obama-spent-the-first-two-years-of-his-administration-practicing/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [In mid-May, the House of Representatives approved the full amount of money that the Veterans Administration said was needed for next year - plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/in-mid-may-the-house-of-representatives-approved-the-full-amount-of/) [Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/when-we-criticize-in-iran-the-actions-of-the-government-the/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [We will finally complete the biometric entry-exit visa tracking system, which we need desperately. For years Congress has required biometric entry-exit visa tracking systems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-finally-complete-the-biometric-entry-exit-visa-tracking/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) [Browse all 1,855 Administration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It happens every once in awhile at the federal level when the solicitor general, on behalf of the U.S., will confess error or decline to defend a law. I don't know what is going through the [Obama] administration's thought process on 'don't ask, don't tell.' 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