Dictionary of Meaning

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Krytocracy

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A '''Krytocracy''' is a government ruled by judges. Perhaps the most famous instance of the use of the word was during a discussion between Supreme Court of the United States supreme court Judge justice Stanley Forman Reed Stanley Reed and his law clerk about Brown v. Board of Education. The clerk mentioned that the then still-evolving majority of the Court was reaching the "desirable" result. Reed thought that this observation was irrelevant and dangerous, for if judges voted for results merely because they privately struck the judges as desirable, the Court would overstep its jurisdiction and set the country on the path to Krytocracy. The story is told in "Mr. Justice Reed and Brown v. The Board of Education" by John B. Fassett, published by the Supreme Court Historical Society at http://www.supremecourthistory.org/04_library/subs_volumes/04_c18_k.html. A krytocracy should be contrasted with a kritarchy. Both are governments ruled by judges, but the difference lies in how judgements are arrived at. Judgements in a krytocracy are arrived at by the personal opinions of the judge, whereas judgements in a kritarchy are arrived at by judging whether a person's natural rights have been violated. Category:Forms of government {{Gov-stub}}