RSN: FOCUS | NYT: The Supreme Court Isn't Listening, and It's No Secret Why
03 October 22 Live on the homepage now! Reader Supported News FOCUS | NYT: The Supreme Court Isn't Listening, and It's No Secret Why The New York Times Editorial Board Excerpt: "All they have is their black robes and the public trust. A court that does not keep that trust cannot perform its critical role in American government." T he Supreme Court’s authority within the American political system is both immense and fragile. Somebody has to provide the last word in interpreting the Constitution, and — this is the key — to do so in a way that is seen as fair and legitimate by the people at large. What happens when a majority of Americans don’t see it that way? A common response to this question is to say the justices shouldn’t care. They aren’t there to satisfy the majority or to be swayed by the shifting winds of public opinion. That is partly true: The court’s most important obligations include safeguarding the constitutional rights of vulnerable minorities who ...
