judicial philosophy
Judge's guiding principles
Judicial philosophy is a judge's framework for interpreting laws and constitutions.
Some philosophies emphasize the text's original meaning; others allow interpretation to evolve with changing circumstances.
A judge's judicial philosophy shapes how they approach cases on everything from civil rights to executive power: Her judicial philosophy favors strict construction of the Constitution.
- founding fathersMale originators of institutions
- legal precedentPrior ruling with authority
- dissenting opinionsFormal judicial disagreements
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- pragmatismPractical problem-solving philosophy
Scalia · constitutional review · separation of powers · majority opinions · contextualism · checks and balances · rule of law · due process · court of appeals · bench trial · landmark rulings · Ruth Bader Ginsburg · constitutional amendments · consequentialism · deontology · utilitarianism · moral relativism
judicial philosophyoriginalism
Interpreting by founding-era meaning
textualism · judicial activism · judicial restraint · formalism
judicial philosophylegal judgment
Court's formal decision
verdict · judicial ruling · court decision · court order · holding
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