While the seeming independence of the federal judiciary has

There are truths in the world that are sharp like blades — truths that cut through illusion and expose the hidden workings of power. One such truth was spoken by Murray Rothbard, who said, “While the seeming independence of the federal judiciary has played a vital part in making its actions virtual Holy Writ for the bulk of the people, it is also and ever true that the judiciary is part and parcel of the government apparatus and appointed by the executive and legislative branches.” In these words, Rothbard pierces the veil of reverence that surrounds authority. He reminds us that independence, though sacred in principle, is often shadowed by the hands that shape it.

At first, his observation seems almost heretical. For the people are taught to see the judiciary as a temple of impartiality — a place where justice stands aloof from the storms of politics, where wisdom speaks without fear or favor. And indeed, such independence is the ideal. But Rothbard, ever the economist and philosopher of liberty, bids us look deeper. He tells us that the judges who pronounce verdicts are not born of divine impartiality; they are chosen by men of power, shaped by systems of government, and sustained by the same political machinery that they are said to restrain. The robe may be white, but it is woven by the state.

The origin of Rothbard’s thought lies in his lifelong struggle to expose the hidden alliances between power and perception. He saw that people, longing for order, often worship institutions instead of questioning them. They treat the word of courts as Holy Writ, beyond challenge or doubt, forgetting that every institution of man is touched by the flaws of man. To him, the greatest danger was not tyranny imposed by the sword, but tyranny disguised as virtue — when the governed believe they are free while quietly submitting to the authority of those they dare not question. In this, Rothbard echoes the ancient prophets who warned that idolizing human power, even in noble robes, leads to the decay of liberty.

History bears grim witness to his warning. In ancient Rome, when the Senate and the courts became instruments of emperors, the people still pretended they lived under the laws of the Republic. They spoke the language of liberty while obeying the decrees of Caesar. The illusion of independence masked the reality of control. So too, Rothbard warns, do modern governments use the appearance of balance to conceal the unity of power. The executive, the legislature, and the judiciary — though distinct in theory — are bound by mutual creation. Each feeds and legitimizes the other, and when they forget the people, their independence becomes but a shadow-play.

Yet, Rothbard’s message is not one of despair, but of awakening. He calls for skepticism, not cynicism — for eyes that see clearly, not hearts that surrender. True independence, he implies, cannot be granted by appointment; it must be earned by conscience. A judge may be chosen by rulers, but his integrity belongs to himself. The people, too, must guard their minds against blind reverence. To question authority is not rebellion — it is fidelity to truth. For the health of a republic depends not only on the virtue of its institutions, but on the vigilance of its citizens.

The deeper wisdom of Rothbard’s words lies in the timeless struggle between power and principle. No system, however noble in design, can escape the corruption of comfort or the temptation of control. Therefore, each generation must renew the meaning of independence — not merely in law, but in spirit. When justice becomes habit, it dies; when it becomes question, it lives. To see clearly that the judiciary is both guardian and creature of government is not to dishonor it, but to keep it honest. For only when light shines upon power can liberty endure.

So, my child, let this be your lesson: do not bow to any authority as infallible. Respect the law, but question those who interpret it. Honor institutions, but remember they are born of human hands and must be watched by human eyes. The seeming independence of power is not its reality — it is a test of your discernment. Stand as a citizen of reason, not a servant of reverence. For as Rothbard teaches, freedom is not preserved by faith in the state, but by the courage to see it as it is — flawed, human, and ever in need of your watchful truth.