Justice O 'Connor believes that "judicial independence is very important for protecting judges from external interference and upholding justice. The Constitution of China also recognizes the importance of judicial independence, stipulating: "The people's courts independently exercise judicial power in accordance with the law and are not subject to interference by administrative organs, social organizations and individuals. "Similarly, the founders of the United States also realized that it is very important for the judiciary not to be controlled by other government departments to ensure the legitimacy of judicial activities, more precisely, to ensure the legitimacy of the government itself. This kind of independence, in addition to "institutional" independence, should also include "personal" judicial independence, sometimes called "decisive" independence. The judicial independence of "individual" embodies the principle that a judge should decide every case he hears fairly, not according to any personal prejudice or external influence. However, we should be clear that judicial independence is not an end in itself, but a means to achieve it. This is a crucial system design for maintaining the rule of law. In the United States, our commitment to the rule of law means that even the president can and must be responsible. Sometimes, in order to maintain the rule of law, judges need great courage to act to ensure that legal procedures are not destroyed. "
"The rule of law also requires judges to provide justified reasons for their judgments. This requirement can not only promote the rationality of judicial decisions, but also help to improve the legitimacy of the rule of law. By clearly stating the legal basis of their conclusions, judges can enhance the public's understanding that their formal judgments are not made arbitrarily. In turn, this can enhance public confidence and make them think that the judiciary is the defender of the principle of the rule of law. "