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Quotation from Jacobson v. Massachusetts by Supreme Court of the United States
“Before closing this opinion we deem it appropriate, in order to prevent misapprehension as to our views, to observe-perhaps to repeat a thought already sufficiently expressed, namely-that the police power of a state, whether exercised directly by the legislature, or by a local body acting under its authority, may be exerted in such circumstances, or by regulations so arbitrary and oppressive in particular cases, as to justify the interference of the courts to prevent wrong and oppression.”
Jacobson v. Massachusetts, Opinion of the Court (Justice Harlan), closing paragraphs (U.S. Reports text (Wikisource))
Harlan cautions that the police power has limits that courts will enforce.
Citation: "Before closing this opinion we deem it appropriate, in order to prevent misapprehension as to our views, to observe-perhaps to repeat a thought already sufficiently expressed, namely-that the police power of a state, whether exercised directly by the legislature, or by a local body acting under its authority, may be exerted in such circumstances, or by regulations so arbitrary and oppressive in particular cases, as to justify the interference of the courts to prevent wrong and oppression." — Supreme Court of the United States, Jacobson v. Massachusetts, Opinion of the Court (Justice Harlan), closing paragraphs (U.S. Reports text (Wikisource)). (id jacobson-v-massachusetts-q6)
Portrait: JudgeJMHarlan, Mathew Brady or Levin Handy, Public domain.
