Concerning Justice

Individual freedom and public safety meet in these lectures on the meaning and administration of justice. Delivered before Yale University's law school in 1914, Lucilius A. Emery's addresses begin by examining the relationship between truth and justice, then consider the sources of rights, liberty of action, and the responsibilities of government. References to thinkers and jurists give the discussion a historical frame while keeping attention on how people can live together under law.

Emery argues for constitutional limits and an independent, impartial judiciary. His account of divided governmental powers weighs the desire for swift reform against the risk of arbitrary decisions and unequal treatment. Examples from colonial government show why overlapping offices and interference with courts concern him. Readers interested in political philosophy or the administration of justice will find a sustained case for restraining public power while preserving its ability to protect individual rights.