Amendments Quote by William J. Brennan
“While the machinery of law enforcement and indeed the nature of crime itself have changed dramatically since the Fourth Amendment became part of the Nation's fundamental law in 1791, what the Framers understood then remains true today - that the task of combating crime and convicting the guilty will in every era seem of such critical and pressing concern that we may be lured by the temptations of expediency into forsaking our commitment to protecting individual liberty and privacy.”
About This Quote
Source Supreme Court Opinion: United States v. Jones, 2012
Even as crime evolves, protecting liberty and privacy remains vital; expediency must not override constitutional safeguards.
In simple terms: Liberty and privacy must be guarded despite crime pressures.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize constitutional rights over short‑term security gains.
Themes
law
privacy
civil liberties
Mood
cautious
serious
Type
legal
policy
When to use this quote
- law enforcement tactics
- surveillance policies
- public safety debates
Key Concepts
constitutional law
balance of power
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance safety and privacy?
- What safeguards prevent overreach?
A Different Perspective
Security concerns may pressure rights erosion.
![“I'd say that [Louis] Brandeis practiced a kind of a "living originalism," to use the title of Jack Balkin's great book. He said you start with the paradigm case, which in the case of the Fourth Amendment was these general warrants or writs of assistance, but you define it at a level of abstraction…” quote by Jeffrey Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aeb/jeffrey-rosen-13180_abstraction_i-d-say-that-louis-brandeis-practiced-a_73138.jpg)
