Supreme Court quotes are statements made by Supreme Court justices in their rulings or opinions that reflect their legal reasoning and philosophies. These quotes can serve as a source of guidance and insight into the inner workings of the Supreme Court. Quotes from Supreme Court justices can also provide a window into how the Court views different legal issues, or can offer key insights into the larger legal landscape. Quotes from the Supreme Court can provide a unique perspective on the law, and can help to shape the way we think about it.
47 Best Supreme Court Quotes
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“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.”
– West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette
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“The very essence of civil liberty certainly consists in the right of every individual to claim the protection of the laws, whenever he receives an injury.”
– Marbury v. Madison
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“It is not the province of the court to decide upon the justice or injustice, the policy or impolicy, of these laws.”
– Fletcher v. Peck
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“The power of the legislature is absolute and uncontrollable when it acts to enact laws.”
– Wayman v. Southard
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“The judiciary cannot, as the legislature may, avoid a measure because it approaches the confines of the Constitution.”
– Marbury v. Madison
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“That the people have an original right to establish, for their future government, such principles as, in their opinion, shall most conduce to their own happiness is the basis on which the whole American fabric has been erected.”
– The Federalist No. 78
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“The Constitution is the supreme law of the land.”
– Marbury v. Madison
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“Where rights secured by the Constitution are involved, there can be no rule making or legislation which would abrogate them.”
– Miranda v. Arizona
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“The Constitution of the United States establishes a government of enumerated powers.”
– Martin v. Hunter’s Lessee
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“No right is held more sacred, or is more carefully guarded, by the common law, than the right of every individual to the possession and control of his own person, free from all restraint or interference of others, unless by clear and unquestionable authority of law.”
– Union Pacific Railway v. Botsford
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“The very idea of a government, republican in form, implies a right on the part of its citizens to participate in its organization, in some mode.”
– Minor v. Happersett
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“It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is.”
– Marbury v. Madison
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“The power to tax involves the power to destroy.”
– McCulloch v. Maryland
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“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.”
– West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette
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“The makers of our Constitution undertook to secure conditions favorable to the pursuit of happiness. They recognized the significance of man’s spiritual nature, of his feelings and of his intellect.”
– Palko v. Connecticut
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“The power to declare war, including the power of judging the causes of war, is exclusively vested in Congress.”
– The Prize Cases
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“No one is bound to obey an unconstitutional law and no courts are bound to enforce it.”
– 16 Am. Jur. 2d, Sec. 177 late 2d, Sec. 256
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“The very conception of a just government and its duty to the citizen includes the reciprocal obligation of the citizen to render military service in case of need and the right to compel it.”
– Selective Draft Law Cases
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“The right to vote freely for the candidate of one’s choice is of the essence of a democratic society, and any restrictions on that right strike at the heart of representative government.”
– Reynolds v. Sims
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“It is elementary that the great powers of Congress to conduct war and to regulate the Nation’s foreign relations are subject to the constitutional requirements of due process.”
– Ex parte Quirin
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“The power to tax involves the power to destroy.”
– McCulloch v. Maryland
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“The protection of the Bill of Rights goes beyond the specific guarantees to elaborate a principle that the government may not intrude upon the privacy of the home.”
– Silverman v. United States
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“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated.”
– Katz v. United States
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“The power to declare war, including the power of judging the causes of war, is exclusively vested in Congress.”
– The Prize Cases
-
“The very essence of civil liberty certainly consists in the right of every individual to claim the protection of the laws, whenever he receives an injury.”
– Marbury v. Madison
-
“The Constitution of the United States establishes a government of enumerated powers.”
– Martin v. Hunter’s Lessee
-
“The power of the legislature is absolute and uncontrollable when it acts to enact laws.”
– Wayman v. Southard
-
“The courts are not bound by mere forms, nor are they to be misled by mere pretences.”
– Fairbank v. United States
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“The very idea of a government, republican in form, implies a right on the part of its citizens to participate in its organization, in some mode.”
– Minor v. Happersett
-
“The Constitution is the supreme law of the land.”
– Marbury v. Madison
-
“It is not the province of the court to decide upon the justice or injustice, the policy or impolicy, of these laws.”
– Fletcher v. Peck
-
“No right is held more sacred, or is more carefully guarded, by the common law, than the right of every individual to the possession and control of his own person, free from all restraint or interference of others, unless by clear and unquestionable authority of law.”
– Union Pacific Railway v. Botsford
-
“Where rights secured by the Constitution are involved, there can be no rule making or legislation which would abrogate them.”
– Miranda v. Arizona
-
“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.”
– West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette
-
“The Constitution is a declaration of the right of the people.”
– Chisholm v. Georgia
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“The makers of our Constitution undertook to secure conditions favorable to the pursuit of happiness. They recognized the significance of man’s spiritual nature, of his feelings and of his intellect.”
– Palko v. Connecticut
-
“The very conception of a just government and its duty to the citizen includes the reciprocal obligation of the citizen to render military service in case of need and the right to compel it.”
– Selective Draft Law Cases
-
“The right to vote freely for the candidate of one’s choice is of the essence of a democratic society, and any restrictions on that right strike at the heart of representative government.”
– Reynolds v. Sims
-
“No one is bound to obey an unconstitutional law and no courts are bound to enforce it.”
– 16 Am. Jur. 2d, Sec. 177 late 2d, Sec. 256
-
“It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is.”
– Marbury v. Madison
-
“The protection of the Bill of Rights goes beyond the specific guarantees to elaborate a principle that the government may not intrude upon the privacy of the home.”
– Silverman v. United States
-
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated.”
– Katz v. United States
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“It is not the province of the court to decide upon the justice or injustice, the policy or impolicy, of these laws.”
– Fletcher v. Peck
-
“The very essence of civil liberty certainly consists in the right of every individual to claim the protection of the laws, whenever he receives an injury.”
– Marbury v. Madison
-
“That the people have an original right to establish, for their future government, such principles as, in their opinion, shall most conduce to their own happiness is the basis on which the whole American fabric has been erected.”
– The Federalist No. 78
-
“The power to declare war, including the power of judging the causes of war, is exclusively vested in Congress.”
– The Prize Cases
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“It is elementary that the great powers of Congress to conduct war and to regulate the Nation’s foreign relations are subject to the constitutional requirements of due process.”
– Ex parte Quirin
Conclusion
Overall, Supreme Court quotes provide an insight into the intentions and values of the Supreme Court. They reflect the court’s commitment to upholding the Constitution, preserving the rule of law, and providing equal justice under the law. They also reveal the court’s willingness to consider the impact of its decisions on the public, as well as its willingness to protect the rights of individuals. Supreme Court quotes serve as a reminder that the court is an important part of our democracy, and that its decisions have lasting impacts on our everyday lives.
