Does the Supreme Court have the power to change the culture, or does our culture influence the decisions of the justices? A conversation with NYU law professor Barry Friedman. Read more »
Heard through the Marble
Yesterday, I attended oral argument in the Supreme Court’s Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) case. This was particularly exciting for me, as I have argued in my research that concerns about the Court’s public perception and legitimacy, particularly in the context of intense public interest, may be consequential for the [...] Read more »
Congress Improves Among Hispanics; Obama, SCOTUS Hold Majority Popularity
Popularity of the U.S. Congress, while weak overall, has gained sharply among Hispanics, likely reflecting its current efforts on immigration reform, a new ABC News/Washington Post poll has found. More than half of Americans, meanwhile, favorably rate the U.S. Supreme Court and the president alike. Congress by far is the [...] Read more »
No, a Sweeping Gay Marriage Ruling Won’t Trigger a Backlash
… For all the fervor around the issue, many supporters worry that a blanket declaration of a constitutional right to same-sex marriage would create a backlash, turning Americans against the cause. … In fact, there is now a good deal of research on how the public reacts to Court decisions, [...] Read more »
How Opinion on Same-Sex Marriage Is Changing, and What It Means
The Supreme Court will hear arguments this week on two cases related to same-sex marriage, the first involving a California referendum that barred gay marriage, the other involving a federal law that prevents the government from recognizing same-sex unions. A variety of outcomes are possible, but it seems prudent to [...] Read more »
Supreme Court’s Favorable Rating Still at Historic Low
As the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments on two same-sex marriage cases, and with several other high-profile cases on its docket, the court’s favorability rating remains close to an all-time low. [cont.] Pew Recent polls: Supreme Court Read more »
In Supreme Court Debate on Voting Rights Act, a Dubious Use of Statistics
In oral arguments before the Supreme Court last week, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. introduced a statistical claim that he took to imply that an important provision of the Voting Rights Act has become outmoded. … As much as it pleases me to see statistical data introduced in the [...] Read more »
Public opinion could sway Supreme Court’s ruling on gay marriage
Public opinion on marriage for gay and lesbian couples has shifted with almost unprecedented speed since California voters banned such unions in 2008. That shift could influence the Supreme Court, in particular Justice Anthony M. Kennedy and possibly Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., as it decides whether to uphold [...] Read more »
Video: The Year in Politics
The Wall Street Journal presents a look back at a historic year in politics, including how Mitt Romney won the GOP’s nomination, the Supreme Court ruling on ObamaCare and how Barack Obama overcame a tough economy to decisively win re-election. Read more »
The Health Care Case in the Public Mind: How the Supreme Court Shapes Opinion About Itself and the Laws It Considers
The Supreme Court’s decision in NFIB v. Sebelius achieved a level of media coverage and public salience reached by very few Supreme Court decisions. It represented a political moment, if not a constitutional one. Although legal scholars might focus on the doctrinal importance of the decision for shaping the contours [...] Read more »