American liberals have become addicted to the courtroom, relying

Hear the words of Neil Gorsuch, who declared with candor and gravity: “American liberals have become addicted to the courtroom, relying on judges and lawyers rather than elected leaders and the ballot box, as the primary means of effecting their social agenda on everything from gay marriage to assisted suicide to the use of vouchers for private-school education.” These words, though rooted in a particular time and struggle, carry the weight of an eternal question: where does true power in a republic lie? Is it in the chambers of law, or in the hearts and voices of the people?

Gorsuch’s statement is no dismissal of the courtroom itself, for courts have long stood as guardians of rights. Rather, it is a warning: that when citizens place too much reliance on judges and lawyers, they risk neglecting the harder, nobler labor of persuasion, of debate, and of victory through the ballot box. For in a democracy, the greatest source of legitimacy does not flow from decrees handed down, but from the will of the people expressed through their chosen leaders. The danger lies not in law, but in forgetting that law must be rooted in the consent of the governed.

History itself gives us a mighty example. Recall the days of the Roman Republic, when the people entrusted their fate not to emperors but to elected tribunes and consuls. When Romans grew weary of persuasion and began to rely too heavily on the decrees of judges and magistrates, the strength of the republic faltered. It was not long before Caesar crossed the Rubicon, and the will of the people was overshadowed by the will of a single man. Thus we see the timeless truth: a people who abandon their voice to the courts risk surrendering their freedom.

Yet, we must not forget the counterweight. Courts have indeed played heroic roles in moments when the ballot box was slow to bring justice. Think of Brown v. Board of Education, when the Supreme Court declared segregation unlawful, even while legislatures hesitated. The courtroom in that hour became the midwife of liberty. But even then, lasting change required the courage of citizens in the streets, the sacrifices of activists, and, in time, the votes of millions to enshrine civil rights in law. Thus Gorsuch’s words remind us that while the judges may open the door, the people must walk through it together.

The meaning of the quote is thus revealed: that dependence on the courtroom alone is insufficient to build lasting social change. True change requires the sweat of public debate, the courage of elected leaders, and the voice of the people expressed through the ballot box. The courtroom may spark transformation, but the ballot box cements it in the soul of the republic. Only then can reform endure without the constant threat of reversal.

The lesson for us is clear: do not withdraw from the labor of democracy. Do not place all your hopes upon judges or lawyers, for though their role is mighty, their power is not a substitute for your own. Instead, take up the tools of persuasion, conversation, and civic engagement. Speak in the assemblies of your time, cast your vote with thought and courage, and hold your leaders accountable. For democracy is not inherited like an heirloom; it is built anew with every generation.

And what practical actions must we take? Learn the issues of your day deeply, not by hearsay but by careful study. Engage with those who disagree, for in such dialogue lies the sharpening of ideas. Vote, and encourage others to vote, for the ballot box is the altar of self-government. Support leaders of integrity, and resist the temptation to retreat into silence or cynicism. For when the people grow passive, power slips into the hands of the few; but when the people rise, no court or throne can stand against them.

Thus let Gorsuch’s words echo through time: courts may shape the path, but the people must walk it. Rely not only on judges, but on your own voice, your own courage, your own sacred right to choose. For only in this way will freedom endure, and only in this way will justice be both declared and lived.