But I really think it's a very unfortunate part of our judicial system and I would feel much, much better if more states would really consider whether they think the benefits outweigh the very serious potential injustice, because in these cases the emotions are very, very high on both sides and to have stakes as high as you do in these cases, there is a special potential for error. We cannot ignore the fact that in recent years a disturbing number of inmates on death row have been exonerated.
Interpretation
The quote discusses the potential flaws and high stakes in the judicial system, particularly regarding the death penalty and wrongful convictions.
John Paul Stevens expresses concern about the death penalty's implications within the judicial system, emphasizing the emotional intensity surrounding such cases. He highlights the risk of serious error given the high stakes involved, pointing to the alarming trend of wrongful convictions, especially among death row inmates. Stevens advocates for a careful reevaluation of the death penalty, urging states to weigh its benefits against the possibility of irreversible injustice.
In practice
A law professor discussing the implications of the death penalty in class might use this quote.
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.
But I wound like people to think I was an honest judge and a good judge. And I always tried the reach the best result in every case.
It is not our job to apply laws that have not yet been written.
I think this country would be much better off if we did not have capital punishment.... We cannot ignore the fact that in recent years a disturbing number of inmates on death row have been exonerated.
While money is used to finance speech, money is not speech.
For over 200 years after the adoption of the Second Amendment, it was uniformly understood as not placing any limit on either federal or state authority to enact gun control legislation.
Circumstances of crimes vary. So do motives. And so do prospects for rehabilitation. The number of imponderables makes it impossible to sentence by formula and still sentence justly.
Discrimination in virtually every aspect of political, economic, and social life is now perfectly legal if you've been labeled a felon.
I know that every trial requires fairness and truth. Any trial that abandons the pursuit of truth cannot be considered fair or just.
We refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt.
We have to work together in order to prove that genocidal campaigns will fail and lead to accountability of the perpetrators and bring justice for survivors.
Evil must be attacked by. . . the day to day assault of the battering rams of justice.
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