“The most important political office is that of the private citizen.”
Louis D. Brandeis (1856-1941) 

Supreme Court Justice (1916-1939)

I love this statement, made by a Supreme Court Justice, but not in an opinion.

It is empowering. When seeking more information about its context, which so far has only been “early in his career,” I also found the National Civic League, founded in 1894 as the National Municipal League, with notable members like Theodore Roosevelt, Louis Brandeis, and Frederick Law Olmsted, among other community leaders of the day. It is still around and working to advance inclusive democracy.* 

From today’s perspective, many of these notable men are notably flawed by sexism, racism, and/or classism. But let us not throw a good idea out with the bad ones. These words can inspire us to reframe and re-energize our view of each person’s role in our complex society. We should not cede our power but seek out ways to use it wisely. 

As the first Jewish person to serve on the Supreme Court, Brandeis was no stranger to bias and discrimination, and both before and during his court service he was known as a reformer, a “radical,” to some. His writings, both before and while on the court are foundational to the concept of a Constitutional right to privacy, and while his point of view did not always win the day immediately, he has been cited repeatedly. "The Right to Privacy" by Brandeis and Samuel Warren, is among the most famous law review articles, and his dissent In Olmstead v. United States (1928), a case involving wire-tapping and the 4th Amendment, is still influential in thinking about the interplay of rights and technological advancements. Read more about the man at the website of his eponymous university in Boston.

Justice Brandeis also said “democracy means that the people shall govern, and they can only govern by taking the trouble to inform themselves as to the facts necessary for a correct decision, and then by recording that decision through a public vote.” This is a clarion call for work of the League of Women Voters. It connects us to our traditional role of facilitating an informed and engaged electorate. We know that the information landscape today would likely boggle the good justice’s mind, but we can work within this landscape. We can offer information on a wide variety of topics via a wide variety of media and make connections between people and organizations. We can reach out to our legislators and encourage other voters to learn and to reach out, and ultimately, to vote.

Thank you for all you do for the League of Women Voters Roseville Area, and for democracy. 

*[I have not made a deep dive into the National Civic League. If you are familiar with it, please share your knowledge with me. Thank you.]