--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The function of the prosecutor under the…" description: "\"The function of the prosecutor under the federal Constitution is not to tack as many skins of victims as possible against the wall. His function is to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/william-o-douglas-2931_accused_the-function-of-the-prosecutor-under-the_3096055.jpg" --- # The function of the prosecutor under the federal… ![“The function of the prosecutor under the federal Constitution is not to tack as many skins of victims as possible against the wall. His function is to vindicate the rights of the people as expressed in the laws and give those accused of crime a fair trial.” quote by William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/william-o-douglas-2931_accused_the-function-of-the-prosecutor-under-the_3096055.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/william-o-douglas-2931_accused_the-function-of-the-prosecutor-under-the_3096055.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/william-o-douglas-2931_accused_the-function-of-the-prosecutor-under-the_3096055.jpg) > “The function of the prosecutor under the federal Constitution is not to tack as many skins of victims as possible against the wall. His function is to vindicate the rights of the people as expressed in the laws and give those accused of crime a fair trial.” [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A prosecutor should protect citizens' rights and ensure fair trials, not merely seek convictions. **In simple terms:** Prosecutors must uphold justice, not just win cases. Key Takeaway Uphold fairness and rights in legal proceedings. Themes justice law ethics rights fairness Mood thoughtful concerned Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - courtroom - legal reform - public policy Key Concepts legal theory due process civil liberties Questions to Reflect On - How can prosecutors balance victim advocacy and defendants' rights? - What safeguards ensure fair trials? A Different Perspective Balancing public safety with individual rights is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Criminal justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminal-justice/) [Fair trial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fair-trial/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/) [Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) ## Related quotes > [In lieu of those checks and balances central to our legal system, non-citizens face an executive that is now investigator, prosecutor, judge, jury and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/in-lieu-of-those-checks-and-balances-central-to-our-legal-system-non/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [Marriage is not defined in the federal Constitution at all; it's a matter for the states. And applying the Fourteenth Amendment to the equality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/marriage-is-not-defined-in-the-federal-constitution-at-all-it-s-a/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [Of all the objections which have been framed against the federal Constitution, this is perhaps the most extraordinary. Whilst the objection itself is levelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/of-all-the-objections-which-have-been-framed-against-the-federal/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [The President can exercise no power which cannot be fairly and reasonably traced to some specific grant of power in the Federal Constitution or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-president-can-exercise-no-power-which-cannot-be-fairly-and/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [The whole frame of the Federal Constitution proves that the government which it creates was intended to be one of limited and specified powers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/the-whole-frame-of-the-federal-constitution-proves-that-the/) [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) > [I think the federal government should be doing only what the Constitution says it should be. We don't have authority under the federal Constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-broun/i-think-the-federal-government-should-be-doing-only-what-the/) [Paul Broun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-broun/) > [Our federal Constitution embodies the idea of modern India: it defines not only India but also modernity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pranab-mukherjee/our-federal-constitution-embodies-the-idea-of-modern-india-it-defines/) [Pranab Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pranab-mukherjee/) > [The proposed constitution, therefore, even when tested by the rules laid down by its antagonists, is, in strictness, neither a national nor a federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-proposed-constitution-therefore-even-when-tested-by-the-rules/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [ Many of the opposition \[to the new Federal Constitution\] wish to take from Congress the power of internal taxation. Calculation has convinced me that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/many-of-the-opposition-to-the-new-federal-constitution-wish-to-take/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The issue presented is whether the Federal Constitution confers a fundamental right upon homosexuals to engage in sodomy, and hence invalidates the laws of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/the-issue-presented-is-whether-the-federal-constitution-confers-a/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) > [The Federal Constitution forms a happy combination in this respect; the great and aggregate interests being referred to the national, the local and particular,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-federal-constitution-forms-a-happy-combination-in-this-respect/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [The frame of mind in the local legislatures seems to be exerted to prevent the federal constitution from having any good effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-knox/the-frame-of-mind-in-the-local-legislatures-seems-to-be-exerted-to/) [Henry Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-knox/) > [The inhabitants of the ceded territory shall be incorporated in the Union of the United States, and admitted as soon as possible, according to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-inhabitants-of-the-ceded-territory-shall-be-incorporated-in-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > […I am sure that the dangers of this system (the Federal Constitution) are real, when those who have no similar interest with the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/i-am-sure-that-the-dangers-of-this-system-the-federal-constitution/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [If the federal constitution is to be construed so far in connection with the state constitutions, as to leave the trial by jury in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/if-the-federal-constitution-is-to-be-construed-so-far-in-connection/) [Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) ## More by William O. Douglas > [The First Amendment makes confidence in the common sense of our people and in the maturity of their judgement the great postulate of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/the-first-amendment-makes-confidence-in-the-common-sense-of-our/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [Common sense often makes good law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/common-sense-often-makes-good-law/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [Inanimate objects are sometimes parties to litigation. A ship has a legal personality, a fiction found useful for maritime purposes. The corporation sole -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/inanimate-objects-are-sometimes-parties-to-litigation-a-ship-has-a/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [Any test that turns on what is offensive to the community's standards is too loose, too capricious, too destructive of freedom of expression to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/any-test-that-turns-on-what-is-offensive-to-the-community-s-standards/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [I've often thought that if planners were botanists, zoologists, geologists, and people who know about the earth, we would have much more wisdom in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/i-ve-often-thought-that-if-planners-were-botanists-zoologists/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [I have the same confidence in the ability of our people to reject noxious literature as I have in their capacity to sort out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/i-have-the-same-confidence-in-the-ability-of-our-people-to-reject/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [The liberties of none are safe unless the liberties of all are protected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/the-liberties-of-none-are-safe-unless-the-liberties-of-all-are/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [A function of free speech under our system of government is to invite dispute. It may indeed best serve its high purpose when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/a-function-of-free-speech-under-our-system-of-government-is-to-invite/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [At the constitutional level where we work, 90 percent of any decision is emotional. The rational part of us supplies the reasons for supporting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/at-the-constitutional-level-where-we-work-90-percent-of-any-decision/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [To be whole and harmonious, man must also know the music of the beaches and the woods. He must find the thing of which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/to-be-whole-and-harmonious-man-must-also-know-the-music-of-the/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [Sunlight is the best disinfectant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/sunlight-is-the-best-disinfectant/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [We deal with a right of privacy older than the Bill of Rights-older than our political parties, older than our school system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/we-deal-with-a-right-of-privacy-older-than-the-bill-of-rights-older/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [It is our attitude toward free thought and free expression that will determine our fate. There must be no limit on the range of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/it-is-our-attitude-toward-free-thought-and-free-expression-that-will/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [The interests of the corporation state are to convert all the riches of the earth into dollars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/the-interests-of-the-corporation-state-are-to-convert-all-the-riches/) [William O. 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