John Marshall Harlan II: Constitution

John Marshall Harlan II was American judge and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court (1899-1971). Explore interesting quotes on constitution.
John Marshall Harlan II: 18   quotes 0   likes

“These decisions give support to a current mistaken view of the Constitution and the constitutional function of this court. This view, in short, is that every major social ill in this country can find its cure in some constitutional principle and that this court should take the lead in promoting reform when other branches of government fail to act. The Constitution is not a panacea for every blot upon the public welfare nor should this court, ordained as a judicial body, be thought of as a general haven of reform movements.”

John Marshall Harlan II

Dissenting in Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533, 589 (1964).

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“The Constitution is not a panacea for every blot upon the public welfare, nor should this Court, ordained as a judicial body, be thought of as a general haven for reform movements.”

John Marshall Harlan II

Dissenting in Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533, 624-25 (1964).

“This Court, limited in function in accordance with that premise, does not serve its high purpose when it exceeds its authority, even to satisfy justified impatience with the slow workings of the political process. For when, in the name of constitutional interpretation, the Court adds something to the Constitution that was deliberately excluded from it, the Court, in reality, substitutes its view of what should be so for the amending process.”

John Marshall Harlan II

Dissenting in Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533, 624-25 (1964).

Reality