Lysander Spooner: “The question, then, between trial by jury, as thus described, and…”

On the record

The question, then, between trial by jury, as thus described, and trial by the government, is simply a question between liberty and despotism.

Said by

Lysander Spooner

Source

This quote contrasts trial by jury with trial by government, framing it as a choice between freedom and tyranny.

More from Lysander Spooner

It was a principle of the Common Law, as it is of the law of nature, and of common sense, that no man can be taxed without his personal consent.

Why should they not have such an administration of justice as they desire, and can understand?

They were even allowed to grant pardon to criminals, and to correct by their clemency the rigors of justice.

But there is no reason why a judge should have the power of punishing, for contempt, any more than for any other offence.

Lysander Spooner: “The question, then, between trial by jury, as thus described, and trial by the government, is simply a question between…”