I think that the legitimacy of the court would be undermined in any case if the court made a decision based on its perception of public opinion.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Everything needs to be public. The legitimacy of the courts comes from the fact that they reason openly, on the record, based on facts.
If the court is a political institution making important political decisions, then the public should debate the politics of Supreme Court decisions.
The Court's legitimacy arises from the source of its authority - which is, of course, the Constitution - and is best preserved by adhering to decision methods that neither expand nor contract but legitimize the power of judicial review.
Judges rule on the basis of law, not public opinion, and they should be totally indifferent to pressures of the times.
The reversal of a Supreme Court opinion is possible.
The papers reveal that in several key abortion cases, justices were keenly interested in the perceived public reaction to their rulings - indicating that courts can be influenced by public sentiment.
One thing I know from personal experience, judges hate it when parties talk publicly about their cases. There are a lot of things about our criminal legal system that need to be changed, and this is just one of them. Prosecutors know how to play the press. Most defendants don't.
Opinions are a private matter. The public has an interest only in judgments.
The Court's objection to cameras may be much more a product of history and process than an unwillingness to be placed in the public spotlight.
The court makes an amazing amount of decisions that ought to be made by the people.
No opposing quotes found.