Final answer:
Montesquieu believed that the power to judge laws should reside in an independent judicial branch to maintain political liberty and provide checks and balances.
Step-by-step explanation:
Baron de Montesquieu, a French enlightenment writer, believed in the separation of powers within a government to ensure the liberty and prevent any single branch from becoming too powerful. In his view, the judicial function should be independent from the executive and legislative functions. Thus, Montesquieu advocated for an independent judicial branch that would have the power to judge laws, which is critical to maintaining political liberty and providing checks and balances within the system.