Some Supreme Court justices worry that a gay marriage ruling will provoke public backlash. They shouldn’t be concerned.

We don’t know how the Supreme Court is going to rule in Obergefell v. Hodges. However, some are already suggesting that the Court should be careful and not go too far too fast, for fear of a backlash or a surge in anti-gay opinion. …

Research on public opinion allows us to address some key questions. Does opinion backlash occur? Must the Court go slow or completely defer to the democratic process for fear of creating an outraged and angry public? In short, does the Court have to choose between democracy on the one hand and liberty and equality on the other? CONT.

Benjamin C. Bishin, Thomas J. Hayes, Matthew B. Incantalupo & Charles Anthony Smith, The Monkey Cage

See also: Court Decisions and Trends in Support for Same-Sex Marriage

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