Every individual who participated in the redistricting process knew that incumbency protection was a critical factor in producing the bizarre lines. ... Many of the oddest twists and turns of the Texas districts would never have been created if the Legislature had not been so intent on protecting party and incumbents.
John Paul StevensIt might be added that corporations have no consciences, no beliefs, no feelings, no thoughts, no desires. Corporations help structure and facilitate the activities of human beings, to be sure, and their โpersonhoodโ often serves as a useful legal fiction. But they are not themselves members of โWe the Peopleโ by whom and for whom our Constitution was established.
John Paul StevensWhenever we remove a brick from the wall that was designed to separate religion and government, we increase the risk of religious strife and weaken the foundation of our democracy.
John Paul StevensRequiring that an execution be relatively painless...actually undermines the very premise on which public approval of the retribution rationale is based.
John Paul Stevens