John Holt (Lord Chief Justice) Quotes

32 Sourced Quotes

I agree we ought not to incroach or inlarge our jurisdiction; by so doing we usurp both on the right of the Queen and the people.

John Holt
Let all people come in, and vote fairly; it is to support one or the other party, to deny any man's vote.

John Holt
My judgment ought to be given for the plaintiff: but my brothers are all of another opinion, and so I submit to it. The defendant must have his judgment.

John Holt
We are not to issue process here as instruments or conduit-pipes, but judicially as Judges: and it will not be an objection to say, that we may award process at all hazards, and let the party grieved come after and plead to it; for we shall never grant an ill-writ, that the party may avoid it in pleading.

John Holt
Whatever at common law might be amended in civil cases, was at common law amendable in criminal, and so it is at this day.

John Holt
Where a man has but one remedy to come at his right, if he loses that he loses his right.

John Holt
To excuse himself from damage, must say, was ready always and at all times.

John Holt
The subject being unusual, I fear that I shall not make myself intelligible, but I will do my endeavour, that the reasons of our judgment may be apprehended.

John Holt
We must not be frighted when a matter of property comes before us by saying it belongs to the Parliament; we must exert the Queen's jurisdiction.

John Holt
Libelling against a private man is a moral offence; but when it is against a government, it tends to the destruction of it.

John Holt
Every injury imports a damage, though it does not cost the party one farthing, and it is impossible to prove the contrary; for a damage is not merely pecuniary, but an injury imports a damage, when a man is hereby hindered of his right. As in an action for slanderous words, though a man does not lose a penny by reason of the speaking them, yet he shall have an action. So if a man give another a cuff on the ear, though it cost him nothing, no, not so much as a little diachylon, yet he shall have his action, for it is a personal injury.

John Holt
Shall we indict one man for making a fool of another?

John Holt
I do not pretend to dispense equity at large, but only by the consent of the parties, upon a rule of Court.

John Holt
He whose dirt it is must keep it that it may not trespass.

John Holt
It is abominable to convict a man behind his back.

John Holt
No counsel in the world that understand themselves, can argue anything against what has been often settled and always practised.

John Holt
We ought, as far as we can by law, to support the government of all societies and corporations, especially this of the city of London; and if the mayor and aldermen should not have power to punish offenders in a summary way, then farewell the government of the city.

John Holt
It is a vain thing to imagine a right without a remedy; for want of right and want of remedy are reciprocal.

John Holt
Shall we relieve a man, that trusts when he needs not?

John Holt
Rokeby, J.: I do not think but a Popish doctor may be a good doctor to a Protestant patient; but I do not think that a Popish governor can be a good governor for a Protestant subject.
Holt, C. J.: Aye, but a Popish censor is not so proper to supervise and inspect all the Protestant physicians.

John Holt
We take notice of all feasts, and the almanack is part of the common law, the calendar being established by Act of Parliament, and it is published before the Common-prayer Book.

John Holt
It is a disparagement of the Government, who put an ill man into office.

John Holt
If it be a matter within our jurisdiction, we are bound by our oaths to judge of it.

John Holt
We cannot alter the law, we are bound by our oaths to proceed according to the law as it is at present.

John Holt
I am far from being such a Judge as shall lay any intolerable yoke upon any one's neck.

John Holt
Actual perceptible damage is not indispensable as the foundation of an action; it is sufficient to show the violation of a right, in which case the law will presume damage.

John Holt
We cannot make a law, we must go according to the law. That must be our rule and direction.

John Holt
If public officers will infringe men's rights, they ought to pay greater damages than other men, to deter and hinder other officers from the like offences.

John Holt
It is expected you should do your best for those you are assigned for, as it is expected in any other case, that you do your duty for your client.

John Holt
An universal custom is a law, and I know no distinction between lex mercatoria and consuetudo mercaborum.

John Holt