Edward Kennedy Justice Quotations

For all my years in public life, I have believed that America must sail toward the shores of liberty and justice for all. There is no end to that journey, only the next great voyage. We know the future will outlast all of us, but I believe that all of us will live on in the future we make.

Even one justice can advance or reverse the progress of our journey.

Do we operate under a system of equal justice under law? Or is there one system for the average citizen and another for the high and mighty?

It is extraordinary that each of the three individuals this president [ George W. Bush] has nominated for the Supreme Court - Chief Justice [John] Roberts, Harriet Miers and now Judge Alito - has served not only as a lawyer for the executive branch, but has defended the most expansive view of presidential authority.

Will a nominee embrace and uphold the essential meaning of the four words inscribed above the entrance of the Supreme Court building: Equal justice under law?

As we have seen from Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's example, even one justice can profoundly alter the meaning of those words for our citizens. Even one justice can deeply affect the rights and liberties of the American people.

Justice Lewis Powell spoke for all of us when he said: Equal justice under law is perhaps the most inspiring idea of our society. It is one of the ends for which our entire legal system exists.

If confirmed, Judge [Samuel] Alito could serve on the court for generation or more. And the decisions he will make as justice will have a direct impact on the lives and liberties of our children, our grandchildren, and even our great-grandchildren.

When I look at that record in light of the 1985 job application to the [Ronald] Reagan Justice Department, it's even more troubling.That document lays out an ideological agenda that highlights Judge Samuel Alito in belonging to an alumni group at Princeton that opposed the admission of women and proposed to curb the admission of racial minorities.

As Justice Sandra Day O'Connor stated, even a state of war is not a blank check for a president to do whatever he wants.

We owe it to future generations of Americans to oppose this nomination. He's the wrong justice for justice and the rule of law in America.

With Justice O'Connor committing to stay until her replacement is named, we can and should remain focused first on protecting our citizens who need help the most,

During Senator Ashcroft's quarter-century of public service, he has taken strong positions on a range of important issues in the range of the Justice Department, ... Unfortunately and often he has used the power of his high office to advance his personal views in spite of the law of the land.

I hope the next nominee selected meets the high standards set by Justice O'Connor, reveres and treasures the freedoms on which our nation was built, and can bring the nation together as she has done often.

I hope I am proven wrong about John Roberts. I have been proven wrong before on my confirmation votes. I regret my vote to confirm Justice Scalia, even though he, too, like Judge Roberts was a nice person and a very smart Harvard lawyer.

But it is very important for the American people to understand who this justice is and what his views are on important constitutional issues, ... And this is magnified particularly when the administration has made a judgment and decision to restrict information about the nominee, for what reasons we do not know.

Chief Justice Rehnquist served this country with the greatest distinction, ... I respected his leadership of the federal judiciary and his strong commitment to the integrity and independence of the courts.

The chief justice is the most important judge in the country, with even more responsibility for the protection of the rights and freedoms of all Americans. Thus John Roberts bears a heavier burden when he comes before the Senate.

We indicated to each and all of them that we stand with them; we want to learn more from them, ... Today isn't just one meeting but is going to be a continuum, until we are able to see justice and those who were a part of this cruel and murderous act are brought to justice.

I do not believe that John Roberts has met the burden of proof necessary to be confirmed by the Senate as chief justice of the United States, ... Sadly, there is ample evidence that he would turn the clock back on this country's great march of progress toward equal opportunity for all.