William J. Brennan: Power

William J. Brennan was American judge. Explore interesting quotes on power.

William J. Brennan: 24 quotes0 likes

“More fundamentally, however, the answer to petitioners' objection is that there can be no impairment of executive power, whether on the state or federal level, where actions pursuant to that power are impermissible under the Constitution. Where there is no power, there can be no impairment of power.”

William J. Brennan

Writing for the court, Elrod v. Burns, 427 U.S. 347, 353 (1976).

“The Constitution was framed fundamentally as a bulwark against governmental power, and preventing the arbitrary administration of punishment is a basic ideal of any society that purports to be governed by the rule of law.”

William J. Brennan

Dissenting, McCleskey v. Kemp, 481 U.S. 279 (1987).

“If our free society is to endure, and I know it will, those who govern must recognize that the Framers of the Constitution limited their power in order to preserve human dignity and the air of freedom which is our proudest heritage.”

William J. Brennan

Writing in Reason and Passion: Justice Brennan's Enduring Influence (1997).