John Coleridge, 1st Baron Coleridge - Case Quotes

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The moment juries or judges go beyond their functions, and take upon themselves to lay down the law or find the facts, not according to the law as it is, but according to the law as they think it ought to be, then the certainty of the law is at an end; there is nothing to rely upon; we are left to the infinite variety and uncertainty of human opinion; to caprice which may at any moment influence the best of us, to feelings and prejudices, perhaps excellent in themselves, but which may distort or disturb our judgment, and distract our minds from the single simple operation of ascertaining whether the facts proved bring the case within the law as we are bound to take it.

John Coleridge, 1st Baron Coleridge

I am sure from my experience of juries that, in a criminal case especially, they will obey the law as declared by the Judge; they will take the law from the Judge, whether they like it or do not like it, and apply it honestly to the facts before them.

John Coleridge, 1st Baron Coleridge

It is far more important the law should be administered with absolute integrity, than that in this case or in that the law should be a good law or a bad one.

John Coleridge, 1st Baron Coleridge