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Quote by David L. Bazelon

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Questioning Authority: Justice and Criminal Law

This book delves into the complexities of the legal system, exploring the philosophical underpinnings of justice and the functioning of criminal law. It scrutinizes the roles of various stakeholders, including judges, lawyers, and law enforcement, and examines the impact of legal decisions on society. more

Author

David L. Bazelon
David L. Bazelon

David L. Bazelon was a prominent American judge, born on September 3, 1909, and died on February 19, 1993. During his tenure on the Supreme Court, he was known for his contributions to legal interpretation and judicial reform. more

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“[T]here are, at bottom, basically two ways to order social affairs, Coercively, through the mechanisms of the state - what we can call political society. And voluntarily, through the private interaction of individuals and associations - what we can call civil society. ... In a civil society, you make the decision. In a political society, someone else does. ... Civil society is based on reason, eloquence, and persuasion, which is to say voluntarism. Political society, on the other hand, is based on force.”

“There is no crime more infamous than the violation of truth. It is apparent that men can be social beings no longer than they believe each other. When speech is employed only as the vehicle of falsehood, every man must disunite himself from others, inhabit his own cave and seek prey only for himself.”

“Let me offer you, metaphorically, two magic wands that have sweeping powers to change society. With one wand you could wipe out all racism and discrimination from the hearts and minds of white America. The other wand you could wave across the ghettoes and barrios of America and infuse the inhabitants with Japanese or Jewish values, respect for learning, and ambition. ... I suggest that the best wand for society and for those who live in the ghettoes and barrios would be the second wand.”