Final answer:
The Supreme Court's verdict, influenced by John Adams' argument, signifies an important moment in justice that meshes the law with modern demands and the stubborn facts of each case. It highlights the judiciary's role in interpreting the Constitution according to contemporary needs, as the documents are living entities meant to guide a just society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, today marks a historical moment in the administration of justice with the Supreme Court's majority opinion, delivered by Justice Story. The Court's decision, referencing arguments made by the esteemed John Adams, unambiguously upholds the notion that 'facts are stubborn things' and that the law must respond dynamically to the facts of each case. In this instance, the Court has underscored the right of self-defense in the face of actual provocation, as the accused had the right to preservation of life against any assault, be it by ‘snow-balls, oyster-shells, cinders, clubs, or sticks of any kind,’ as argued by Adams.
As Justice Stevens pointed out, the role of the judiciary is to follow the Constitution and the law, notwithstanding personal policy preferences. The landmark case, Marbury v. Madison, exemplifies the judicial branch's responsibility in interpreting the Constitution and setting a precedent that the Supreme Court can determine the constitutionality of laws. The case being discussed today reaffirms that justices should take care to balance the modern realities against the fundamental principles of justice, as Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes suggested, that law is not absolute but must align with the 'felt necessities of the time.'
To achieve legal and social justice in our society, it is imperative that we recognize the need for laws to evolve with changing social norms and technological advances. As articulated by the court, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are living documents that require continuous interpretation in light of modern contexts - a process that is both critical and beneficial for the evolution of our legal system and the protection of individual rights.