More than two-thirds (68 percent) of Americans support programs which give special consideration to blacks and other minorities in order to make up for past discrimination, a new survey finds, as the U.S. Supreme Court considers the constitutionality of such programs. The new survey, conducted by Public Religion Research Institute, […] Read more »
The Good News About Race and Voting
In the next several weeks the Supreme Court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of the requirement that several states, mostly in the South, get “pre-clearance” from the Justice Department before they make any changes to their election laws. … The justices won’t necessarily find a rationale for their […] Read more »
Do Supreme Court Rulings Reflect the Culture, or Change It?
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 »