Quote

Even without mandatory sentences, judges are still capable of levying tough penalties for serious offenses - and just as in states like Texas that have 'tough on crime' reputations, this can be done without jeopardizing public safety.

When you talk about mandatory minimums, it created a lot of unfairness in our sentencing.

Mandatory minimum sentencing has disproportionately affected blacks, Hispanics and others who often don't have the financial means to fight back.

Judges need to restrict themselves to the proper resolution of the case before them. They need to avoid the temptation to set broad policy.

Judges must be free from political intervention or intimidation.

Judges must beware of hard constructions and strained inferences, for there is no worse torture than that of laws.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to argue that laws written in the 1970s are adequate for today's intelligence challenges.

Judges rule on the basis of law, not public opinion, and they should be totally indifferent to pressures of the times.

People demand a lot of the justice system and they demand things that it can't deliver.

Our runaway judiciary is badly in need of restraint by Congress.