Precedents Quotes
A curated collection of the best quotes about Precedents.
Top Quotes
“Precedent goes in support of justice.”
“It is dangerous to make a precedent, an innovation.”
“What is today supported by precedents will hereafter become a precedent.”
“If any precedent should be found, you should have time to make use of it.”
“Seldom will it happen that any one rule will exactly suit with many cases.”
“My duty is, as a Judge, to be governed by fixed rules and former precedents.”
“The repetition of a catchword can hold analysis in fetters for fifty years or more.”
“If Napoleon had nuclear subs, we'd all be speaking French. So, the history thing can be oversold.”
“I hope we shall resolve according to the reason of former times, and according to our consciences.”
“I think what has been considered as settled law for thirty years past ought not now to be departed from.”
“It is hard, I confess, and so are many other things in the law; but I am wonderfully tender of making precedents.”
“I lay great stress upon the two precedents of near a century and a half ago, and no instance in contradiction of them.”
“Recognised precedents have the force of decisions, by which Courts and Judges individually must hold themselves bound.”
““[T]he “Casey” majority presented perhaps the Court’s most extended discussion of the concept of precedent in this century” (81)”
“We must, as in all cases of tradition, trace backwards, and presume, from the usage which is remembered, that the precedent usage was the same.”
“The precedents are all against you, every one of them, and what shall guide our judgments, since there is nothing alleged in this case but precedents?”
“I cannot bear to be told when an argument has been addressed to me by which I am not convinced, that there is a case decided which I am bound to follow.”
“It is of dangerous consequence for Judges, in their judgments, to rely too much on precedents that perhaps went forth through the necessity of the present times.”