Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Can justice really be fair if judges answer to the king?
In Grievance #8 of the Declaration of Independence, Chris Canty, graduate student at George Washington University, explains how King George III blocked laws that would establish independent courts in the colonies.
Colonists wanted judges to serve independently, protected from political pressure. In England, judges could hold office during “good behavior,” helping ensure fair decisions. But the king repeatedly rejected similar protections in the colonies and kept judges dependent on the Crown.
For colonists, this wasn’t just a legal issue. It was proof that they were being treated differently than subjects living in England and denied the same protections under the law.
The fight over independent courts became so important that the principle later appeared in Article III of the U.S. Constitution.
This is Part 8 of our 27-part series breaking down every grievance that led to the American Revolution, building toward Independence Day.
Explore more:
billofrightsinstitute.org/constitution-day
#DeclarationOfIndependence #Grievance8 #AmericanRevolution #USHistory #Civics #JudicialIndependence #SeparationOfPowers
Can justice really be fair if judges answer to the king?
In Grievance #8 of the Declaration of Independence, Chris Canty, graduate student at George Washington University, explains how King George III blocked laws that would establish independent courts in the colonies.
Colonists wanted judges to serve independently, protected from political pressure. In England, judges could hold office during “good behavior,” helping ensure fair decisions. But the king repeatedly rejected similar protections in the colonies and kept judges dependent on the Crown.
For colonists, this wasn’t just a legal issue. It was proof that they were being treated differently than subjects living in England and denied the same protections under the law.
The fight over independent courts became so important that the principle later appeared in Article III of the U.S. Constitution.
This is Part 8 of our 27-part series breaking down every grievance that led to the American Revolution, building toward Independence Day.
Explore more:
billofrightsinstitute.org/constitution-day
#DeclarationOfIndependence #Grievance8 #AmericanRevolution #USHistory #Civics #JudicialIndependence #SeparationOfPowers
