Friday, October 06, 2006

Foundational Law Quotes XXVII

“[T]he liberty guaranteed by our bills of rights is a reservation to the individual of certain fundamental reasonable expectations involved in life in a civilized society and a freedom from arbitrary and unreasonable exercise of the power and authority of those who are designated or chosen in a politically organized society to adjust relations and order conduct, and so are able to apply the force of that society to individuals. Liberty under law implies a systematic and orderly application of that force so that it is uniform, equal, and predictable, and proceeds from reason and upon understood grounds rather than from caprice or impulse or without full and fair hearing of all affected and understanding of the facts on which official action is taken.”

- Roscoe Pound

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