--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the question [before justices of the…" description: "\"If the question [before justices of the peace] relate to any point of public liberty, or if it be one of those in which the judges may be suspected of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8a/thomas-jefferson-43_bias_if-the-question-before-justices-of-the-p_982924.jpg" --- # If the question \[before justices of the peace\] relate to… ![“If the question [before justices of the peace] relate to any point of public liberty, or if it be one of those in which the judges may be suspected of bias, the jury undertake to decide both law and fact.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8a/thomas-jefferson-43_bias_if-the-question-before-justices-of-the-p_982924.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8a/thomas-jefferson-43_bias_if-the-question-before-justices-of-the-p_982924.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8a/thomas-jefferson-43_bias_if-the-question-before-justices-of-the-p_982924.jpg) > “If the question \[before justices of the peace\] relate to any point of public liberty, or if it be one of those in which the judges may be suspected of bias, the jury undertake to decide both law and fact.” [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Juries should decide both law and fact when public liberty is at stake or bias is suspected. **In simple terms:** Juries handle law and facts in liberty cases. Key Takeaway Empower juries to protect freedoms. Themes justice liberty bias Mood analytical serious Type educational historical When to use this quote - court trials - civil rights cases - public policy debates Key Concepts legal theory democratic process Questions to Reflect On - How can juries be better informed? - What safeguards prevent bias? A Different Perspective Juries may lack legal expertise for complex law. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bias/) [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Judge and jury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judge-and-jury/) [Jury duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jury-duty/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Nullification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nullification/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) ## Related quotes > [Jurors should acquit, even against the judge's instruction . . . if exercising their judgment with discretion and honesty they have a clear conviction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/jurors-should-acquit-even-against-the-judge-s-instruction-if/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [It is not only the juror's right, but his duty to find the verdict according to his own best understanding, judgment and conscience, though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/it-is-not-only-the-juror-s-right-but-his-duty-to-find-the-verdict/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [It would be an absurdity for jurors to be required to accept the judge's view of the law, against their own opinion, judgment, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/it-would-be-an-absurdity-for-jurors-to-be-required-to-accept-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [This is the most historic moment in Supreme Court history in our lifetime, no question about it. These are justices who are going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-alan-sekulow/this-is-the-most-historic-moment-in-supreme-court-history-in-our/) [Jay Alan Sekulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-alan-sekulow/) > [I have had to make a decision I may not agree with, but I am required to follow the letter of the law. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-t-canady/i-have-had-to-make-a-decision-i-may-not-agree-with-but-i-am-required/) [Charles T. Canady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-t-canady/) > [“From here on in, many things can happen. But the main one will be this: you decide not to go to law school after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/from-here-on-in-many-things-can-happen-but-the-main-one-will-be-this/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) > [That the several states who formed that instrument, being sovereign and independent, have the unquestionable right to judge of its infraction; and that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/that-the-several-states-who-formed-that-instrument-being-sovereign/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Every State has a natural right in cases not within the compact (casus non faederis) to nullify of their own authority all assumptions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/every-state-has-a-natural-right-in-cases-not-within-the-compact-casus/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I consider, then, the power to annul a law of the United States, assumed by one state, incompatible with the existence of the Union,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/i-consider-then-the-power-to-annul-a-law-of-the-united-states-assumed/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [Nullification is not a 'defense' recognized by law, but rather a mechanism that permits a jury, as community conscience, to disregard the strict requirements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-l-bazelon/nullification-is-not-a-defense-recognized-by-law-but-rather-a/) David L. Bazelon > [In this relation, then, the proposed government cannot be deemed a national one; since its jurisdiction extends to certain enumerated objects only, and leaves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/in-this-relation-then-the-proposed-government-cannot-be-deemed-a/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [The States then being the parties to the constitutional compact, and in their sovereign capacity, it follows of necessity, that there can be no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-states-then-being-the-parties-to-the-constitutional-compact-and/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Nullification is the Jeffersonian idea that the states of the American Union must judge the constitutionality of the acts of their agent, the federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-woods/nullification-is-the-jeffersonian-idea-that-the-states-of-the/) [Thomas Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-woods/) > [Men do not make laws. They do but discover them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/men-do-not-make-laws-they-do-but-discover-them/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-story/the-powers-not-delegated-to-the-united-states-by-the-constitution-nor/) [Joseph Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-story/) ## More by Thomas Jefferson > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/states-and-the-federal-government-are-coordinate-departments-of-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-to-the-accidental-opinion-of-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Perceiving the order of nature to be that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue, I am willing to hope it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/perceiving-the-order-of-nature-to-be-that-individual-happiness-shall/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [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/) > [Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one-step-what-will-be-the-next/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-two-principles-on-which-our-conduct-towards-the-indians-should-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Knowledge is power...knowled ge is safety...knowle dge is happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/knowledge-is-power-knowled-ge-is-safety-knowle-dge-is-happiness/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Nothing but free argument, raillery and even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/nothing-but-free-argument-raillery-and-even-ridicule-will-preserve/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-the-people-are-afraid-of-the-government-that-s-tyranny-but-when/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Explore all 2,098 Thomas Jefferson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More Bias quotes > [The print is devised so that I can cut the dresses on the bias, so they work around the body. It's not like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galliano/the-print-is-devised-so-that-i-can-cut-the-dresses-on-the-bias-so/) [John Galliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galliano/) > [“Mental illness is not something you misunderstand in this era. Get educated because bias is no different than racism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/mental-illness-is-not-something-you-misunderstand-in-this-era-get/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > ["Natural" is a very dangerous word to use about sexuality ... Our society's notions of normality are completely fake and meta-trendy, since they rely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-bright/natural-is-a-very-dangerous-word-to-use-about-sexuality-our-society-s/) [Susie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susie-bright/) > [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. It makes its own limited models of things; operating upon these indices or variables to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/science-manipulates-things-and-gives-up-living-in-them-it-makes-its/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [Fortunately for serious minds, a bias recognized is a bias sterilized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/fortunately-for-serious-minds-a-bias-recognized-is-a-bias-sterilized/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [I can say this very clearly: I have come into this Congress with an antiwar bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-frankel/i-can-say-this-very-clearly-i-have-come-into-this-congress-with-an/) [Lois Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-frankel/) > [The legal bias for special protection for women has begun to wreak havoc with the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/the-legal-bias-for-special-protection-for-women-has-begun-to-wreak/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [That's awesome. There's no bias in the media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-edwards/that-s-awesome-there-s-no-bias-in-the-media/) [Carl Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-edwards/) > [“The most disgusting human trait is bias, because it typically leads to propaganda, hate and violence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-lifsey/the-most-disgusting-human-trait-is-bias-because-it-typically-leads-to/) [Lori Lifsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-lifsey/) > [I'm speaking out against social media bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-loomer/i-m-speaking-out-against-social-media-bias/) [Laura Loomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-loomer/) > [“I pick up a copy of Newsweek on the plane and immediately notice how biased, slanted, and opinionated all the U.S. newsmagazine articles are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-pick-up-a-copy-of-newsweek-on-the-plane-and-immediately-notice-how/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [“Hundreds of studies confirm that human forecasts are flawed and biased. 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