The role of the court is never to make the policy. It is to wait until Congress acts.

My career as a judge has shown me that regardless of what my desires were, that my life, what I have accomplished, does serve as an inspiration for others.

If he was talking about the fact that I served on a particular board that promoted equal opportunity for people, then you could talk about that being a liberal instinct.

Certainly there are some very specific words in the Constitution that have to be given direct application.

the goal of justice to be impartial, that is the central role of a judge.

It helps you listen and understand. It doesn't change what the law is or what the law commands.

I would regret that because for me the work I do with students... is to encourage both students...

The court is not a legislative body. It is a reviewing body of whether a particular act by a state in a particular case is constitutional or not.

I believe that my reputation is--is such that I ask the hard questions, but I do it evenly for both sides.

One, in a tragic, tragic, horrible situation like that, can't feel anything but personal sense of regret, but those personal senses can't command a result in a case.

I never understood her to be attempting to say that those people who disagreed with her were unwise or unfair judges.

A judge should never rule from fear. A judge should rule from law and the Constitution.