Is It Wrong to Break a False Law?

[Rade]

Is it morally and/or legally incorrect to violate a false law ? -- by false law I mean a law that is incorrectly communicated from <A> to <B>, such that <B> only has knowledge of law details from information passed on by <A>.

 

[HallsofIvy]

That is, after all, one of the tenets of the American Constitution.

(Of course, I have to interpret "wrong law" as "contrary to the constitution", which gives the concept a much more definite meanign as opposed to "one I happen to disagree with".)

Laws passed by the legislature can be overturned in court but a case has to be brought first- the court cannot just announce that a recently passed law is unconstitutional. And the case has to brought by someone with with a "legitimate interest"- someone who has been harmed by the law- that is, someone who has been arrested for violating that law. If you believe that a law is wrong (unconstitutional) and should be overturned (not just that you don't happen to like it) then you have a civic duty to violate that law.

 

[kerimek]

I am not qualified to make moral or legal judgments. However, from a scientific perspective, it is important to consider the intention and purpose behind a law. If a law is based on false or incorrect information, it may not serve its intended purpose and could potentially cause harm or injustice. In such cases, it may be necessary to question the validity of the law and work towards correcting it. However, it is also important to consider the consequences of breaking a law, even if it is based on false information. In many cases, there may be legal repercussions for violating a law, and it is important to consider these consequences before taking any action. Ultimately, it is up to individuals to make informed decisions based on their own moral and ethical beliefs.