On March 6, Nathan L. Hecht of the Supreme Court of Texas delivered the Institute of Judicial Administration’s 25th Annual Brennan Lecture on State Courts and Social Justice.
In his speech Chief Justice Hecht addressed current threats to judicial independence, including the pressures exerted by political polarization. He spoke about judges remaining impartial and upholding the constitution saying,
“The executive and the legislature must uphold the Constitution, of course, but they must also answer for representing their constituents, for shaping and effectuating the popular will. Judges have no constituencies. They account to the people for their adherence to the rule of law. When judges follow the law, even against the popular will of the time—actually, especially against the popular will of the time—they have done their job.”
Read more here.
Institute of Judicial Administration’s 25th Annual William J. Brennan, Jr. Lecture on State Courts and Social Justice at NYU School of Law.
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