Psychology
The Role of Public Opinion in Shaping Judicial Decision-Making
Quick fact
A landmark study of the U.S. Supreme Court found that shifts in public opinion often precede shifts in the Court's ideological direction, even for non-elected justices with lifetime tenure.
Why this is interesting
A judge swears to follow the law, but when a nation’s opinion shifts, do rulings drift with it? Surprisingly, research suggests they often do.