When we went to school we were told that we were governed by laws, not men. As a result of that, many people think there is no need to pay any attention to judicial candidates because judges merely apply the law by some mathematical formula and a good judge and a bad judge all apply the same kind of law. The fact is that the most important part of a judge's work is the exercise of judgment and that the law in a court is never better than the common sense judgment of the judge that is presiding.
More from Robert H. Jackson
The Supreme Court in the American System of Government (1955), p. 79-80.
Permalink to quote #57 Something happens to a man when he puts on a judicial robe, and I think it ought to. The change is very great and requires psychological change within a man to…
Permalink to quote #59 My philosophy has been and continues to be that [the Court] cannot and should not try to seize the initiative in shaping the policy of the law, either by const…
Permalink to quote #56