Robert H. Jackson · Skopia

Quotes

9

Supreme Court opinion · Legal opinion · Legal writing

The very purpose of a Bill of Rights was to withdraw certain subjects from the vicissitudes of political controversy, to place them beyond the reach of majorities and officials, and to establish them as legal principles to be applied by the courts. One's right to life, liberty, and property, to free speech, a free press, freedom of worship and assembly, and other fundamental rights may not be submitted to vote; they depend on the outcome of no elections.

Robert H. Jackson

West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette · 1943

★ 6.8

Supreme Court opinion · Legal opinion · Legal writing

There is no doubt that, if there were a super-Supreme Court, a substantial proportion of our reversals of state courts would also be reversed. We are not final because we are infallible, but we are infallible only because we are final.

Robert H. Jackson

Brown v. Allen · 1953

★ 5.1

Supreme Court opinion · Legal opinion · Legal writing

The day that this country ceases to be free for irreligion, it will cease to be free for religion—except for the sect that can win political power.

Robert H. Jackson

Zorach v. Clauson · 1952

★ 4.4

Supreme Court opinion · Legal opinion · Legal writing

If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion, or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein.

Robert H. Jackson

West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette · 1943

★ 3.5

All 9 in quotes →