“It is enough to call a man an Irishman, to make it no murder to pervert the law of nations …”
This feast of St. Patrick’s Day provides an occasion for those of Irish ancestry to be grateful for the missionary zeal of St. Patrick. This gratitude can combat complacency, especially for those of us blessed to be Americans of Irish ancestry. A debate is raging today whether the Trump Administration violated a federal court order […]
Matthew Hale’s “Rules for His Judicial Guidance, Things Necessary to Be Continually Had in Remembrance”
Some time after taking judicial office, Matthew Hale wrote up a list of 18 “Rules for his judicial guidance, things necessary to be continually had in remembrance.” The list below is taken from Campbell, The Lives of the Chief Justices of England (3d. ed. 1874, Vol. II).
Sir Matthew Hale’s Bible Verses on Judging (1668)
Some 1668 entries from Sir Matthew Hale’s diary contain reflections on judging. These reflections are preceded by Hale’s transcription of selected Bible verses from Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and 2 Chronicles. The handwritten pages of this diary are in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University. These were transcribed by Dr. Maija Jansson […]
Treating Humans as Such
In establishing the federal government, the Constitution’s Framers sought to overcome a problem: men are not angels, and thus they should not be treated as such. The solution was to design a government in which “[a]mbition” could “counteract ambition.” The idea being that, although the human(s) in any one branch could not be trusted entirely […]
St. John Paul II on St. Joseph on “Work as an Expression of Love”
In the Apostolic Exhortation Redemptoris Custos, of Pope St. John Paul II—On the Person and Mission of Saint Joseph in the Life of Christ and of the Church—we encounter the following: IV WORK AS AN EXPRESSION OF LOVE
I Bind Unto Myself Today — an arrangement
A beautiful hymn based on St. Patrick’s breastplate begins “I Bind Unto Myself Today.” Here is an uplifting arrangement and rendition: https://youtu.be/_fqzWs6KPoE?feature=shared
Hey Pope Francis critic! Was that letter addressed to you?
On February 10, 2025, the Vatican published a “Letter of the Holy Father Francis to the Bishops of the United States of America.” Reactions to the letter have varied. From whatever perspective one looks at it, there are parts that perhaps should have been worded differently. But one’s perspective matters, doesn’t it? Well here’s a […]
The Proposed R.A.T. Amendment for Virginia
Earlier this year, both houses of Virginia’s General Assembly voted by super-slim majorities to pass through to next year a sweeping proposed amendment to Virginia’s Constitution (HJ1/SJ247). Under Virginia’s process for constitutional amendments, this proposal needs to pass again in the next general legislative session after an intervening election. With all 100 House of Delegates […]
John Marshall Day at 124
February 4, 2025 marks the 124th anniversary of “John Marshall Day.” This was a nationwide celebration on February 4, 1901 of the 100th anniversary of the February 4, 1801 accession of John Marshall to the bench as Chief Justice of the United States. February 4 is an auspicious day to launch Ordinatus, as John Marshall is […]
The Jay Papers at Founders Online
One of the best resources for studying various Founders and their times through primary sources is Founders Online. One unfortunate choice made in deciding which Founder to feature for his connection with the federal judiciary was to include the Papers of John Jay, rather than the Papers of John Marshall (which remain behind a paywall at present, though we […]
