John Bayley Quotes

British judge

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Sir John Bayley, 1st Baronet (1763–1841), was an English judge. He was called to the bar in 1792, and was made a judge of the King's Bench in 1808. After sitting in this court for more than twenty-two years, he was at his own request removed to the Court of Exchequer in November 1830. He resigned his seat on the bench in February 1834, and in the following month was created a baronet and admitted to the privy council.

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Pen Names: A Layman

Alternative Names: Sir John Bayley, 1st Bt. • Rt. Hon. Sir John Bayley, 1st Bt. • Sir John Bayley

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Let no cobler go beyond his last.

I am obliged to watch as he has no counsel

It is one of the essential qualities of a Court of justice, that its proceedings should be public, and that all parties who may be desirous of hearing what is going on, if there be room in the place for that purpose,—provided they do not interrupt the proceedings, and provided there is no specific reason why they should be removed,—have a right to be present for the purpose of hearing what is going on.

I cannot properly give advice to anybody. It is very often supposed Judges can give advice, and I therefore take this public opportunity of saying that a Judge cannot do it.

Do not open that which is not evidence.

The law of England is anxious for the interests of persons against whom charges may be made. If a man commits a crime, there is a legal and constitutional mode by which that crime may be brought into discussion. He is liable to be tried, but though his crime may be as great and as aggravated as possible, he ought to have a full, fair, dispassionate, and temperate investigation of his conduct at the time of trial.

So long as Courts of justice remain Courts of justice there must be decency maintained.

The laws of England will protect the rights of British subjects, and give a remedy for a grievance committed by one British subject upon another, in whatever country that may be done.

I think the motives of the legislature in passing an Act of Parliament are to be taken to be proper motives.

Every object and purpose of justice is effectually answered, and every supposed inconvenience is effectually rebutted by the law as it stands.

You may discuss the question of legality on legal grounds, but not by an argumentum ad hominem.

[T]ake it to be the bounden duty of the Judge to lay down the law as it strikes him, and that of the jury to accede to it, unless they have superior knowledge on the subject.

By our rules we cannot receive a letter from a friend.

If a man endeavours to obtain a repeal of those laws, which are conceived to be obnoxious, or the introduction of any laws which he believes to be salutary, if he does that legally, there is no objection to it.

It is of the greatest importance that the administration of justice should not only be free from spot or blame, but that it should be, so far as human infirmity could allow it to become, as free from all suspicion.