The Quotable Lawyer 9781602399471, 2009039538

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Abraham Lincoln

John F. Kennedy

Thomas Jefferson

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

William Shakespeare

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sandra Day O’Connor

Clarence Darrow

Charles Dickens

Voltaire

Benjamin Franklin _

>

Earl Warren

Ambrose Bierce

Alan M. Dershowitz

Julius Caesar

Janet Reno

Blaise Pascal

Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.

Doris Lessing

Reference

US $14.95

The quest for justice is not always easy. However, it can be poignant, enlightening, hilarious, and even scandalous. Words from renowned lawyers, not-so-renowned lawyers, judges, authors, politicians, philosophers, writers, and preachers make up this diverse collection of more than five hundred memorable, bite-sized quotations about lawyers, the law, crime, punishment, justice, landmark cases, and

much more. The legal wisdom of hundreds of keynote figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Clarence Darrow, Sandra Day O’Connor, and Alan

Dershowitz makes up this remarkable compendium. These quotes are sure to provide hours of (unbillable) entertainment for your family lawyer or new law school graduate.

Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2022 with funding from Kahle/Austin Foundation

https://archive.org/details/quotablelawyerO000unse_y9n8

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QUOTABLE LAWYER

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QUOTABLE LAWYER

Copyright © 2010 by Tony Lyons All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case ofbrief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 555 Eighth Avenue, Suite 903, New York, NY 10018.

Skyhorse Publishing books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Skyhorse Publishing, 555 Eighth Avenue, Suite 903, New York, NY 10018 or [email protected]. www.skyhorsepublishing.com

10987654321 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data The quotable lawyer / edited and introduced by Tony Lyons. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 978-1-60239-947-1 (alk. paper) 1. Law--Quotations. 1. Lyons, Tony. K58.Q678 2010 340--de22 2009039538 Printed in China

Acknowledgments

For my ex-wife, Helena, against whom I would need a very special lawyer in order to win an argument. Thanks to my brother Charlie for helping with the censorship section; to my brother Paul for helping with the introduction, the literary quotes, and the organization; and to my father, Nick, for his comments and encouragement.

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THE*QWOTABLE

DAWYER

Justice?—You get justice in the next world, in this world you have the law. WILLIAM GADDIS

A Frolic of His Own (1994)

226

Cases an d ju dgements

ie

THE

QUOTABLE

LAWYER

Scarcely any political question arises in the United States that is not resolved, sooner or later, into a judicial question. ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE

Democracy in America (1835)

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Who is to say that five men ten years ago were right whereas five men looking the other direction today are wrong? U.S. SUPREME Court JUSTICE HARRY A. BLACKMUN (1908-1999)

COMMENTING ON PRIOR COURT DECISIONS THAT ENDED IN 5-4 VOTES

228

GASES

AND*

JUDGMENTS

SEZ

Not in 124 years has a presidential election result been so disputed. Never in all those years have so many Americans believed that the winner of the White House actually lost the election. Nor in all of those years has the winning side been so convinced that the losing candidate was intent on “stealing the election.” E.J. DIONNE, JR. AND WILLIAM KRISTOL

from Bush v. Gore (2001)

229

A

age LAWYER ES SS RE Re BA eS THE RSQUOTABLE

He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? CAIAPHAS, HIGH PRIEST,

AT THE TRIAL OF JESUS OF NAZARETH FOR BLASPHEMY AND HIGH

TREASON (33 A.D.)

“Jesus?” he replied, “Jesus, of Nazareth? recall him to mind.”

No, I cannot

PONTIUS PILATE, LONG SINCE RETIRED, WHEN A FRIEND ASKS IF HE

REMEMBERS A CERTAIN TRIAL OVER WHICH HE HAD PRESIDED YEARS BEFORE. ANATOLE FRANCE

The Procurator of Judea (1896)

230

CASES oS ore ee ee JUDGMENTS ete pe AND elect

The unprecedented decision of the five justices to substitute their political judgment for that of the people threatens to undermine the moral authority of the high court for generations to come. ALAN DERSHOWITZ Supreme Injustice (2001)

ene

From the beginning we've said we are going to respect the rule of law. If the Supreme Court of the United States says no more votes will be counted, then that’s

the end of it. Davip Boles, ON NBC’s Meet the Press (2001)

231

ED

PREs

OUOTA

BEE

Aw

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I offer my personal pledge to you and my family that I never again be involved in drugs or any illegality. JOHN A. ZACCARO, JR. (AKA THE PHARMACIST), GERALDINE FERRARO’S SON, AT SENTENCING AFTER BEING CONVICTED OF SELLING COCAINE AT MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE

S aEaaeeenEnne

The sale of drugs was an insidious offense that demanded strong and firm measures. JUDGE MCCAFFREY

DURING THE TRIAL OF JOHN A. ZACCARO, JR.

HE LATER SENTENCED ZACCARO TO HOUSE ARREST.

PiePe

CASES

AND

JUDGMENTS

SZ

The public has a right to every man’s evidence, except for those persons protected by a constitutional, common-law, or statutory privilege. United States v. Bryan (1950)

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