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William Rehnquist Quotes
1924–2005 United States
William Hubbs Rehnquist (October 1, 1924 – September 3, 2005) was an American lawyer and jurist who served on the Supreme Court of the United States for 33 years, as an associate justice from 1972 to 1986 and as Chief Justice from 1986 until his death in 2005. Considered a conservative, Rehnquist favored a conception of federalism that emphasized the Tenth Amendment's reservation of powers to the states.
United States Historians Judges Lawyers Lutherans Also known as: Rehnquist, William, William H. Rehnquist
Random William Rehnquist quote
24 quotes
Our judges will not continue to represent the diverse face of America if only the well-to-do or the mediocre are willing to become judges.
Pregnancy is of course confined to women, but it is in other ways significantly different from the typical covered disease or disability.
The First Amendment recognizes no such thing as a "false" idea.
Somewhere "out there," beyond the walls of the courthouse, run currents and tides of public opinion which lap at the courtroom door.
To the extent that libraries wish to offer unfiltered access, they are free to do so without federal assistance.
At the heart of the First Amendment is the recognition of the fundamental importance of the free flow of ideas and opinions on matters of public interest and concern. The First Amendment recognizes no such thing as a "false" idea.
This result […] will daily stand as a veritable sword of Damocles over every succeeding president and his advisers.
The Constitution requires that Congress treat similarly situated persons similarly, not that it engage in gestures of superficial equality.
Actually, the Swedish genealogists were so good that I found out more than I wanted to about my Swedish ancestors: one of them in the 17th century was executed for having embezzled funds from an estate for which he was the steward.
[Jury selection] is best based upon seat-of-the-pants instincts, which are undoubtedly crudely stereotypical and may in many cases be hopelessly mistaken.
The considered professional judgment of the Air Force is that the traditional outfitting of personnel in standardized uniforms encourages the subordination of personal preferences and identities in favor of the overall group mission.
The Supreme Court is an institution far more dominated by centrifugal forces, pushing toward individuality and independence, than it is by centripetal forces pulling for hierarchical ordering and institutional unity.
A public library does not acquire Internet terminals in order to create a public forum for Web publishers to express themselves, any more than it collects books in order to provide a public forum for the authors of books to speak.
It has been said that Sweden's loss has been America's gain, and I think this is true. Swedish immigrants and their descendants have contributed a great deal to America and it is worthwhile to remember our Swedish heritage.
It is, I believe, impossible to justify the sacrifice of even a portion of our historic individual freedom for a purpose such as [giving blacks, Latinos and Jews the right to be served in local motels, hotels and restaurants].
[T]he Constitution does not guarantee the right to acquire information at a public library without any risk of embarrassment.
Well, it's just a sense of personal satisfaction. Just like taking a good photograph or painting a picture or playing a good golf game or something, it's the thing in itself that justifies it.
Booknotes television interview (1992)
[T]he process of plea bargaining is not one which any student of the subject regards as an ornament to our system of justice.
I want to put to rest the speculation and unfounded rumors of my imminent retirement... I am not about to announce my retirement. I will continue to perform my duties as chief justice as long as my health permits.
If you could say of any one individual that the court as an institution is the length and shadow of that individual, surely it would be John Marshall.
Booknotes television interview (1992)
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