
Martin v. Mackonochie (1878), L. R. 3 Q. B. 775.
1900s, Letter to Winfield T. Durbin (1903)
Martin v. Mackonochie (1878), L. R. 3 Q. B. 775.
“The Laws ought to be so framed, as to secure the Safety of every Citizen as much as possible.”
Proposals for a New Law Code (1768), Item 33
1900s, Letter to Winfield T. Durbin (1903)
The King v. Justices of Surrey (1794), 6 T. R. 78.
1900s, Letter to Winfield T. Durbin (1903)
1960s, First court statement (1962)
Context: In its proper meaning equality before the law means the right to participate in the making of the laws by which one is governed, a constitution which guarantees democratic rights to all sections of the population, the right to approach the court for protection or relief in the case of the violation of rights guaranteed in the constitution, and the right to take part in the administration of justice as judges, magistrates, attorneys-general, law advisers and similar positions.
In the absence of these safeguards the phrase 'equality before the law', in so far as it is intended to apply to us, is meaningless and misleading. All the rights and privileges to which I have referred are monopolized by whites, and we enjoy none of them. The white man makes all the laws, he drags us before his courts and accuses us, and he sits in judgement over us.
Dissenting, Olmstead v. United States, 277 U.S. 438 (1928).
Judicial opinions
1910s, The Progressives, Past and Present (1910)