John Paul Stevens Quotes

At bottom, the Court's opinion is thus a rejection of the common sense of the American people, who have recognized a need to prevent corporations from undermining self-government since the founding, and who have fought against the distinctive corrupting potential of corporate electioneering since the days of Theodore Roosevelt. It is a strange time to repudiate that common sense. While American democracy is imperfect, few outside the majority of this court would have thought its flaws included a dearth of corporate money in politics.

John Paul Stevens

Government, Self, People

"Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310". United States Supreme Court case No. 08-205, caselaw.findlaw.com. January 21, 2010.

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I am aware that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity? I will be as harsh as truth, and as uncompromising as justice. On this subject, I do not wish to think, or to speak, or write, with moderation. ... I am in earnest - I will not equivocate - I will not excuse - I will not retreat a single inch - AND I WILL BE HEARD.

John Paul Stevens

Writing, Thinking, Justice

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Our love cannot be measured, it just is.

John Paul Stevens

Our Love

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A democracy cannot function effectively when its constituent members believe laws are being bought and sold.

John Paul Stevens

Believe, Law, Democracy

Citizens United, Appellant v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310, 2010.

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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.

John Paul Stevens

People, Feelings, Desire

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Whenever we remove a brick from the wall that was designed to separate religion and government, we increase the risk of religious strife and weaken the foundation of our democracy.

John Paul Stevens

Religious, Wall, Government

Church & State Editorial, www.au.org. May 2010.

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One thing, however, is certain. Although we may never know with complete certainty the identity of the winner of this year's presidential election, the identity of the loser is perfectly clear. It is the nation's confidence in the judge as an impartial guardian of the rule of law.

John Paul Stevens

Years, Law, Judging

Bush v. Gore (dissenting opinion) (2000)

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Even in high school, a rule that permits only one point of view to be expressed is less likely to produce correct answers than the open discussion of countervailing views.

John Paul Stevens

School, Views, Answers

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The interest in encouraging freedom of expression in a democratic society outweighs any theoretical but unproven benefit of censorship.

John Paul Stevens

Expression, Benefits, Censorship

"ACLU Hails Supreme Court Victory in Internet Censorship Challenge". www.aclu.org. June 27, 1997.

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It is not our job to apply laws that have not yet been written.

John Paul Stevens

Jobs, Law, Written

"Retiring justice an 'unexpected liberal,' negotiator". CNN Wire Staff, www.cnn.com. April 9, 2010.

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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.

John Paul Stevens

Government, Expression, Ideas

"Excerpts From Ruling on Internet: 'Statute Abridges the Freedom of Speech'". www.nytimes.com. June 27, 1997.

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Anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority.

John Paul Stevens

Majority, Shields, Tyranny

"Court Defends Anonymity of Pamphleteers" by Joan Biskupic, www.sfgate.com. April 20, 1995.

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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.

John Paul Stevens

Country, Thinking, Years

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When the commission finds that a pig has entered the parlor, the exercise of its regulatory power does not depend on proof the pig is obscene.

John Paul Stevens

Exercise, Pigs, Justice

"Stevens carved liberal legacy on high court". www.seattletimes.com. April 10, 2010.

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The government must pursue a course of complete neutrality toward religion.

John Paul Stevens

Government, Religion, Atheism

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After all, a district judge who gives harsh sentences to Yankees fans and lenient sentences to Red Sox fans would not be acting reasonably even if her procedural rulings were impeccable.

John Paul Stevens

Yankees, Giving, Judging

Rita v. United States, 551 U.S. 338, supreme.justia.com. 2007.

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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.

John Paul Stevens

Majority, Speak, Individual

John Paul Stevens, University of Chicago. Law School (1992). “The Bill of Rights: a century of progress”

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By requiring that an execution be relatively painless, we necessarily protect the inmate from enduring any punishment that is comparable to the suffering inflicted on his victim. This trend, while appropriate and required by the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment, actually undermines the very premise on which public approval of the retribution rationale is based.

John Paul Stevens

Punishment, Suffering, Trends

Baze v. Rees, 553 U.S. 35, www.law.cornell.edu. 2008.

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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.

John Paul Stevens

Thinking, Years, Numbers

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To show a well-founded fear of persecution, an alien need not prove that it is more likely than not that he or she will be persecuted in his or her home country.

John Paul Stevens

Country, Home, Needs

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Although it may not be a castle, [it is the] functional equivalent of a hotel room, a vacation and retirement home or a hunting and fishing cabin.

John Paul Stevens

Retirement, Home, Vacation

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Requiring that an execution be relatively painless...actually undermines the very premise on which public approval of the retribution rationale is based.

John Paul Stevens

Approval, Execution, Retribution

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The level of discourse reaching a mailbox simply cannot be limited to that which would be suitable for a sandbox.

John Paul Stevens

Would Be, Levels, Mailboxes

"Obama on Mass Shootings; Paul Campaign's Struggles; What House Members Want; Thurgood Marshall's Fight" by Carl M. Cannon, www.realclearpolitics.com. October 2, 2015.

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"Respecting" means concerning or with reference to. But it also means with respect~ that is "reverence," "good-will," "regard" to. Taking into account this richer meaning, the Establishment Clause, in banning laws that concern religion, especially prohibits those that pay homage to religion.

John Paul Stevens

Mean, Law, Atheism

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Although NFL teams have common interests such as promoting the NFL brand, they are still separate, profit-making entities, and their interests in licensing team trademarks are not necessarily aligned

John Paul Stevens

Team, Nfl, Common

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Born: April 20, 1920
Occupation: Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
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