Quote#Wisdom
I do not see to what purpose we exercise a superintendency over all…
Quote byJohn Pratt · 1657–1725
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Rex v. Cleg (1722), 1 Stra. 476..
English (original)
I do not see to what purpose we exercise a superintendency over all inferior jurisdictions, unless it be to inspect their proceedings, and see whether they are regular or not. I have often heard it said that nothing shall be presumed one way or the other in an inferior jurisdiction.
— John Pratt
More from John Pratt
You have a right to discourse with your counsel, but you must do it in such a manner as the jury may not hear.
It is dangerous to make a precedent, an innovation.
Is ill-language a justification for blows?
It is the glory and happiness of our excellent constitution, that to prevent any injustice no man is to be concluded by the first judgment; but that if he apprehends himself to be aggrieved, he has another Court to which he can resort for …
Certainly the opinion of all the Judges of later times, must have more weight than the extra-judicial opinion of a single Judge at any former time.
What is introductory goes for nothing, but it is in order to explain the evidence.