Cases Quote by William Rehnquist
“What many of those who oppose the use of juries in civil trials seem to ignore is that the founders of our Nation considered the right of trial by jury in civil cases an important bulwark against tyranny and corruption, a safeguard too precious to be left to the whim of the sovereign, or, it might be added, to that of the judiciary.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Oral Argument before the Supreme Court, 1995
Juries protect against tyranny and corruption; they are essential safeguards in civil justice.
In simple terms: Juries guard against abuse of power.
Key Takeaway
Support the right to jury trials in civil cases.
Themes
law
justice
democracy
Mood
analytical
advocacy
Type
legal
political
When to use this quote
- courtroom decisions
- legislative reform
- public policy
Key Concepts
civil rights
constitutional law
Questions to Reflect On
- Why are juries important today?
- How can we improve jury efficiency?
A Different Perspective
Juries can be costly and slow.
![“Trial by jury in civil causes,... trial by jury in criminal causes, [and] the benefits of the writ of habeas corpus... all stand on the same footing; they are the common rights of Americans.” quote by Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/439/richard-henry-lee-32108_benefits_trial-by-jury-in-civil-causes-trial-by-j_1892984.jpg)
![“[I]f we assume a liberty interest but nevertheless say that, even assuming a liberty interest, a state can prohibit it entirely, that would be rather a conundrum.” quote by William Rehnquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/16f/william-rehnquist-28058_assuming_i-f-we-assume-a-liberty-interest-but-nev_1642233.jpg)
![“[As in the case of] alcohol prohibition, illegality has driven organized crime, sent countless people to jail, and killed many thousands. Repression does not work.” quote by Sam Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/212/sam-branson-36458_alcohol_as-in-the-case-of-alcohol-prohibition-il_8703.jpg)
