: Lon Fuller argued that "fidelity to law" is only possible when a legal system meets certain procedural standards —such as being public, clear, and consistent. Oxford Academic The Hart-Fuller Debate
In a judicial context, fidelity to law acts as a guardrail against personal or political bias. fidelity to law meaning
At its most basic level, fidelity to law is the moral and professional obligation to respect and uphold the legal order. However, its specific meaning varies significantly depending on the legal theory: NYU Law School Legal Positivism (H.L.A. Hart): : Lon Fuller argued that "fidelity to law"
In legal philosophy, refers to the moral and professional commitment to respect the law not just as a set of commands backed by force, but as a collaborative human achievement aimed at justice. The concept of "fidelity to law" appears deceptively
Breaking a law might undermine the stability of society.
The concept of "fidelity to law" appears deceptively simple: it suggests loyalty or adherence to legal rules. However, beneath this surface lies a profound jurisprudential battleground. This paper argues that fidelity to law is not a single virtue but a tripartite concept encompassing interpretive methodology, moral justification, and role-based duty. By examining legal positivism, natural law theory, and Ronald Dworkin's interpretive turn, this paper demonstrates that one’s definition of fidelity determines whether a judge is a loyal servant, a moral critic, or a creative partner of the legal system.