Charles Sumner: “When a bench of judges stands five to four, shall we say that the…”

On the record

When a bench of judges stands five to four, shall we say that the majority declare a “fact,” and the minority declare an “opinion”?

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Massachusetts

Source

Sumner questions the validity of majority opinions in judicial decisions when the vote is closely divided.

More from Charles Sumner

Working-men of Europe, desire abolition of war, XVIII. 236.

Slavery and the: speech in New York, XI. 433.

The only Constitutional party and party of freedom, VII. 38.

Consent of the governed necessary in forming new governments of, XII. 298.

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Charles Sumner: “When a bench of judges stands five to four, shall we say that the majority declare a “fact,” and the minority declare an…”