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About this quote

What does it mean?
The Court risks losing its traditions if it becomes subject to political manipulation.
In plain terms
The court loses honor if laws are twisted for politics.
What can you take from it?
Judicial independence protects legal tradition.

Where it applies

  • supreme court
  • political appointments
  • legal precedent

Putting it to work

  • support judicial independence
  • resist political pressure

Questions to consider

  • Who guards the guardians of the law?

Another view

Justices may have different legitimate views on law.

More from Earl Warren

  1. The most tragic paradox of our time is to be found in the failure of nation-states to recognize the imperatives of internationalism.

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  2. The police must obey the law while enforcing the law.

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  3. The man of character, sensitive to the meaning of what he is doing, will know how to discover the ethical paths in the maze of possible behavior.

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