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Quote by John Paul Stevens

“Just as the right to speak and the right to refrain from speaking are complementary components of a broader concept of individual freedom, so also the individual's freedom to choose his own creed is the counterpart of his right to refrain from accepting the creed established by the majority.”

Quote by John Paul Stevens

Book:The Bill of Rights: a century of progress

Work

The Bill of Rights: a century of progress

This book delves into the historical development and enduring significance of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, examining their influence on American society and legal landscape throughout the past century. more

Author

John Paul Stevens

John Paul Stevens was a distinguished figure in the United States legal system, serving as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court from 1975 to 2010. He was known for his progressive views and his significant influence on the Court's decisions. more

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“As a matter of constitutional tradition, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we presume that governmental regulation of the content of speech is more likely to interfere with the free exchange of ideas than to encourage it. The interest in encouraging freedom of expression in a democratic society outweighs any theoretical but unproven benefit of censorship.”

Ideas Matter Government Interest Expression Speech Benefits Evidence Tradition Democratic Absence Contrary Censorship Regulation Interfere Theoretical Freedom Of Expression Democratic Society

Author:John Paul Stevens

“It might be added that corporations have no consciences, no beliefs, no feelings, no thoughts, no desires. Corporations help structure and facilitate the activities of human beings, to be sure, and their ‘personhood’ often serves as a useful legal fiction. But they are not themselves members of ‘We the People’ by whom and for whom our Constitution was established.”

People Humans Helping Feelings Might Desire Belief Human Beings Fiction Activity Members Conscience Constitution Structure Corporations Facilitate Personhood

Author:John Paul Stevens

“If you could say of any one individual that the court as an institution is the length and shadow of that individual, surely it would be John Marshall.”

Ifs Would Be Individual Shadow Institutions Court Length

Author:William Rehnquist

“It is always possible for the court to overreach its proper bounds and perhaps declare a lot of laws unconstitutional and frustrate the will of the majority in a way that it ought not be frustrated.”

Way Law Ought Majority Court Bounds Frustrated Unconstitutional

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“Perhaps you should say there should be mandatory retirement even of members of the court, members of the federal judiciary. I'm sure there can be questions about whether one does as good work when you get into your - you know, I'm 67.”

Knows Should Doe Members Court Retirement Good Work Judiciary

Author:William Rehnquist

“I realize that it is an unpopular and unhumanitarian position, for which I have been excoriated by 'liberal' colleagues, but I think Plessy v. Ferguson was right and should be re-affirmed.”

Thinking Should Has Beens Realizing Position Colleagues Ferguson

Author:William Rehnquist

“The 'wall of separation between church and state' is a metaphor based on bad history, a metaphor which has proved useless as a guide to judging. It should be frankly and explicitly abandoned.”

Should States Church Judging Wall Metaphor Scary Guides Separation Useless Abandoned Church And State Separation Of Church And State Separation Between Church And State

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“If you are going to have to play defense all the time, you cannot have the kind of ingenuity, assertiveness, independence, and intelligence which is what has made our country strong.”

Ifs Kind Made Country Play Strong Independence Defense Our Country Ingenuity Assertiveness Assertive Being Assertive

Author:Arlen Specter

“The Republican Party has moved so far to the right, you can't recognize Mitt Romney. What Mitt Romney will appear in October? Mitt Romney has changed positions more often than a pornographic movie queen.”

Party Position Changed Republican Moved Queens Republican Party Romney October

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“Today the Internal Revenue Code constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. A flat tax would be an enormous step forward.”

Would Be Today Steps Taxes Punishment Enormous Code Internals Flats Unusual Revenue Steps Forward Flat Tax Cruel And Unusual Punishment

Author:Arlen Specter