We are selected, but I grew up in California and in San Francisco and there was a system of electing judges. Stephen Breyer californiaelectfrancisco Change image and share on social
I thought that that was an effort to inject a popular element, a democratic element into the selection of a person who, once he is selected and confirmed, is beyond electoral control. Stephen Breyer confirmcontroldemocratic Change image and share on social
And the problem is once you get into this campaign business and begin to have a lot of money, then the person on the bench begins to think - what's going to happen if I decide the case this way or that way? Stephen Breyer beginbenchbusiness share on social
Well, just that there would be somebody in the office and the voters - it was more or less an understanding in the entire community, as long as that person was doing a good job on the merits, nobody was going to run against him. Stephen Breyer communityentiregood share on social
But once the person is selected, at that point that person is independent. Stephen Breyer independentpersonpoint Change image and share on social
It's important to every American that the law protect his or her basic liberty. Stephen Breyer americanbasicimportant Change image and share on social
There are loads of countries that have nice written constitutions like ours. But there aren't loads of countries where they're followed. Stephen Breyer constitutioncountryload Change image and share on social
We can speak about the institution, but ultimately the bar is the group that both is in touch with the public on the one hand and understands the judicial institution on the other. Stephen Breyer bargrouphand Change image and share on social
You will read in the newspaper more often about federal courts, but the law that affects people, the trials that affect human beings are by and large in the state courts. Stephen Breyer affectbeingcourt Change image and share on social
Every citizen has to figure out what kind of government he or she wants. Stephen Breyer citizenfiguregovernment Change image and share on social
