Imaam Ibn Abdul-Barr (may Allah have mercy upon him) stated:

Blind following with the Ulamaa is other than (the typical) following. That is because (the typical) following is that you follow the one who made the statement on that which has become clear to you from the virtue of his statement and soundness of his Madhhab. As for blind following, it is that you speak which his speech and you don’t know the angle of the statement nor the meaning of it and you refuse (to follow/accept) other than it. Or it can be that his mistake has become clear to you but you still follow him (and/or his opinion) out of fear of opposing him. This is the case when it indeed has become clear to you the corruption of his statement. And this is prohibited for you to speak with in the religion of Allah glory be to Him the Most High.

Source: Jaami’ al-‘Ilm w Fadlih 2/787

Translated by Abu Yusuf Khaleefah
24th of Rabee’ ath-Thaani, 1436 H (02-14-2015)
Masjid Nur Allah, Queens, NYC

Original Arabic