John Holt (Lord Chief Justice) Quotes (36 quotes)

Parkyns' Case (1696), 13 How. St. Tr. 72. Compare: "We cannot make laws". Reg. v. Nash (1703), 2 Raym. 990; Powell, J., Queen v. Read (1706), Fortesc. 99.

“Whatever at common law might be amended in civil cases, was at common law amendable in criminal, and so it is at this day.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

The Queen v. Tutchin (1704), 1 Salk. 51 pl. 14.

“Actual perceptible damage is not indispensable as the foundation of an action; it is sufficient to show the violation of a right, in which case the law will presume damage.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

2 Raym. Rep. 938.
Ashby v. White (1703)

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice) Quotes

“Let all people come in, and vote fairly; it is to support one or the other party, to deny any man's vote.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

2 Raym. Rep. 958.
Ashby v. White (1703)

“It is expected you should do your best for those you are assigned for, as it is expected in any other case, that you do your duty for your client.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

Rookwood's Case (1696), 13 How. St. Tr. 154.

“It is abominable to convict a man behind his back.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

The Queen v. Dyer (1703), 6 Mod. 41.

“I agree we ought not to incroach or inlarge our jurisdiction; by so doing we usurp both on the right of the Queen and the people.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

2 Raym. Rep. 938.
Ashby v. White (1703)

“A gentleman of Lincoln's-inn.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

Butler's Case (1699), 13 How. St. Tr. 1259.

“It was the rule of Holt, Chief Justice, to make words actionable whenever they sound to the disreputation of the person of whom they were spoken; and this was also Hale's and Twieden's rule; and I think it a very good rule.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

Fortescue, J., Button v. Heyward (1722), 8 Mod. 24. This is in reference perhaps to Baker v. Pearce, 6 Mod. 23.
About

“It would look very strange, when the Commons of England are so fond of their right of sending representatives to Parliament, that it should be in the power of a sheriff, or other officer, to deprive them of that right, and yet that they should have no remedy; it is a thing to be admired at by all mankind.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

2 Raym. Rep. 954.
Ashby v. White (1703)

“If public officers will infringe men's rights, they ought to pay greater damages than other men, to deter and hinder other officers from the like offences.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

Ashby v. White (1703), 2 Raym. 956.
Ashby v. White (1703)

“We must not be frighted when a matter of property comes before us by saying it belongs to the Parliament; we must exert the Queen's jurisdiction.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

2 Raym. Rep. 938.
Ashby v. White (1703)

“Where a man has but one remedy to come at his right, if he loses that he loses his right.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

2 Raym. Rep. 954.
Ashby v. White (1703)

“To excuse himself from damage, must say, was ready always and at all times.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

Horn v. Lewins (1698), Fortesc. 235.

“I am far from being such a Judge as shall lay any intolerable yoke upon any one's neck.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

Philips v. Bury (1694), 2 T. R. 358.

“Surely the navy must be the navy royal.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

Tutchin's Case (1704), 14 How. St. Tr. 1122.

“Rokeby, J.: I do not think but a Popish doctor may be a good doctor to a Protestant patient; but I do not think that a Popish governor can be a good governor for a Protestant subject.
Holt, C. J.: Aye, but a Popish censor is not so proper to supervise and inspect all the Protestant physicians.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

King against Dr. Burrel (1699), 5 Mod. 432.

“A man may be reputed an able man this year, and yet be a beggar the next; it is a misfortune that happens to many men, and his former reputation will signify nothing.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

Reg. v. Swendsen (1702), 14 How. St. Tr. 596.

“Shall we relieve a man, that trusts when he needs not?”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

Tawney's Case (1703), 2 Raym. 1013.

“Every injury imports a damage, though it does not cost the party one farthing, and it is impossible to prove the contrary; for a damage is not merely pecuniary, but an injury imports a damage, when a man is hereby hindered of his right. As in an action for slanderous words, though a man does not lose a penny by reason of the speaking them, yet he shall have an action. So if a man give another a cuff on the ear, though it cost him nothing, no, not so much as a little diachylon, yet he shall have his action, for it is a personal injury.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

2 Raym. Rep. 955.
Ashby v. White (1703)

“Every man that is injured ought to have his recompence.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

2 Raym. Rep. 955.
Ashby v. White (1703)

“If it be a matter within our jurisdiction, we are bound by our oaths to judge of it.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

2 Raym. Rep. 956.
Ashby v. White (1703)

“The subject being unusual, I fear that I shall not make myself intelligible, but I will do my endeavour, that the reasons of our judgment may be apprehended.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

B. v. Knight and Burton (1699), 1 Raym. 527.

“Shall we indict one man for making a fool of another?”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

Reg. v. Jones (1703), 2 Raym. 1013.

“It is a disparagement of the Government, who put an ill man into office.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

Regina v. Langley (1703), 2 Raym. 1029.

“I do not pretend to dispense equity at large, but only by the consent of the parties, upon a rule of Court.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

Anonymous (1699), 3 Salk. 213.

“We are not to issue process here as instruments or conduit-pipes, but judicially as Judges: and it will not be an objection to say, that we may award process at all hazards, and let the party grieved come after and plead to it; for we shall never grant an ill-writ, that the party may avoid it in pleading.”

John Holt (Lord Chief Justice)

Lucy v. Bishop of St. David's (1702), 7 Mod. 59.

Similar authors

Thomas More26

English Renaissance humanist None

Thomas Fuller35

English churchman and historian None

John Milton190

English epic poet None

Francis Bacon295

English philosopher, statesman, scientist, jurist, and auth… None

Thomas Cranmer2

leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterb… None

John Donne115

English poet None

George Herbert216

Welsh-born English poet, orator and Anglican priest None

Samuel Johnson362

English writer None

Thomas Paine262

English and American political activist None

Maximilien Robespierre78

French revolutionary lawyer and politician None

Similar authors

Thomas More26

English Renaissance humanist None

Thomas Fuller35

English churchman and historian None

John Milton190

English epic poet None

Francis Bacon295

English philosopher, statesman, scientist, jurist, and auth… None

Thomas Cranmer2

leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterb… None