Edward Coke Quotes

A collection of quotes by Edward Coke.

Edward Coke (1552-1634) was an influential English jurist and politician. Born on 1 February 1552 in Mileham, Norfolk, England, Coke came from a family of modest means but had a successful career that helped shape the legal system of England.

Coke studied law at the Inner Temple, one of the four Inns of Court where lawyers were trained. He quickly rose to prominence as a lawyer and was appointed as a judge in 1592. Throughout his career, Coke played a significant role in landmark legal cases, including the treason trial of Sir Walter Raleigh.

Coke's most notable contribution to English law was his defense of the common law and its supremacy over the monarchy. He asserted the principle that the law was above the king and that the king was subject to it, a viewpoint that clashed with the absolute powers of the monarchy at that time.

In 1616, Coke published "The Institutes of the Lawes of England," a comprehensive legal treatise that became a significant reference for centuries to come. He also served as Speaker of the House of Commons and played an instrumental role in the impeachment of corrupt judges.

Although Coke faced political setbacks and conflicts with the monarchy throughout his career, his legacy as a jurist and his fight to establish the supremacy of the law have had a lasting impact on the legal systems of England and other common law jurisdictions around the world. Edward Coke passed away on 3 September 1634 in Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, England.