The law itself is on trial quite as much as the cause which is to be decided.
Harlan F. StoneRead
If a juror feels that the statute involved in any criminal offence is unfair, or that it infringes upon the defendant's natural god-given unalienable or constitutional rights, then it is his duty to affirm that the offending statute is really no law at all and that the violation of it is no crime at all, for no one is bound to obey an unjust law.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the moral responsibility of individuals to reject unjust laws.
Harlan F. Stone's quote underscores the principle that individuals have a duty to question and disobey laws that they believe are unfair or violate fundamental rights. It suggests that the legitimacy of any law depends on its adherence to justice and the rights of individuals, and that obeying unjust laws is not only unnecessary but also immoral.
Themes
Unjust LawRightsMoralityJurorDuty
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about civil disobedience during a law class.
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