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Whatever a person's politics, lawyers have to understand that we are, for most people, the gateway for them to have access to the third branch of government.

In government, our chief executives have been lawyers. The great majority of our cabinets and congresses are and have been men trained in the law. They have provided the leadership and the statecraft and the store of strength when it was needed.

Ultimately, there is no entity called 'government'; there are only people forming themselves into groups called 'governments' and acting in a 'governmental' manner.

I actually became a lawyer because I thought you had to be a lawyer in order to get into national politics.

The Supreme Court and courts in general have been usurping the role of the legislative branch of government.

I was a trial lawyer when I was elected to Congress.

I think lawyers have a fidelity to the system itself that's always got to be with them, and indeed, most of the defense lawyers I know observe that.

I've always had an affinity for lawyers. My dad is a lawyer. He's retired now. My brother is a lawyer. It's always been easy, the legalese.

One of the things I was taught in law school is that I'd never be able to think the same again - that being a lawyer is something that's part of who I am as an individual now.