When some creep's holding a knife to your throat, who do you want to see riding up...me—or your elected representative? Think about it.
— Judge Dredd, Democracy Now!
Democracy is a cancer eating away at the heart of our society.
— Judge Dredd, Revolution
Justice has a price. The price is freedom.
— Judge Dredd, America
What about the Big Lie? How much suffering do we have the right to inflict?
— Judge Dredd, Letter from a Democrat
It was never meant to be forever, Joe.
— Chief Justice Fargo, Origins
We are fascists. We rule. It's the only way we can stay alive in this irradiated, dead world. A grave that claimed us long ago that we refuse to fall into. There is a price to be paid for this.
— Judge Smiley
THE CRIME IS LIFE! THE SENTENCE IS DEATH!
— Judge Death, Batman/Judge Dredd
I am Death. Death the avenger. Purger of sins. Death the merciful. Purifier of souls. Those who considered me gone, think again. Those who laughed and mocked me, be afraid. For I am returned, and this time Judgment will not be denied. I am coming for you.
— Judge Death, My Name is Death
In the third millennium, the world changed. Climate. Nations. All were in upheaval... The earth transformed into a poisonous scorched desert, known as "the Cursed Earth." Millions of people crowded into a few Mega Cities where rowing bands of street savages created violence the justice system could not control. Law as we know it collapsed. From the decay rose a new order. A society ruled by a new elite force... a force with the power to dispense both justice and punishment... They were the police, jury and executioner all in one.
...They were the Judges.
— The 1995 film's opening narration by James Earl Jones