Let's create a legal system that can work.

It may seem ironic that the judicial branch preserves its legitimacy through refraining from action on political questions. That concept was put forward best by Justice [Felix] Frankfurter, appointed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

I stated at Justice [John] Roberts' hearing, the court's injected itself into many of the political debates of our day.

The people believed that while the courts would be independent, they would defer to the political branches on policy issues.

The court's injected itself in the definition of marriage, deciding whether or not human life is worth protecting, permitting government to transfer private property from one person to another, even interpreting the Constitution on the basis of foreign and international laws.

I believe you [Samuel Alito] and others would look and say that the role of the courts is limited and it's not to decide political matters.

I think we just need to stick to our knitting on the topics and the subjects the American people care about.