The Supreme Court's composition tends to remain stable over time, yet its docket and rulings change, affecting our understanding of the Court's broader political ramifications. In Majority Opinions, Stephen Jessee, Neil Malhotra and Maya Sen examine how the Supreme Court's alignment with public opinion shifts dramatically, shaping its legitimacy, approval, and vulnerability to reform. Introducing an empirical method and framework that systematically compares Americans' preferences on case outcomes with the Court's actual rulings, the authors uncover yawning gaps and unexpected alignments across issues and terms. They show how changes in court composition-Amy Coney Barrett replacing Ruth Bader Ginsburg, for example-can shift the Court's trajectory rightward, while docket choices can move rulings closer to public sentiment after unpopular rulings. Examining how the Supreme Court navigates a polarized political environment, the authors reveal how its choices have profoundly affect influence, legitimacy, and national policy.
Jessee, Stephen: - Stephen Jessee is a Professor of Government at the University of Texas at Austin. His interests include American politics and statistical methodology, including voting, public opinion, and the behavior of members of Congress and the Supreme Court. His research has been published in the American Political Science Review, the American Journal of Political Science, the Journal of Politics, Political Analysis, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences among other outlets.
Malhotra, Neil: - Neil Malhotra is the Edith M. Cornell Professor of Political Economy at Stanford Graduate School of Business and Professor (by courtesy) at the Stanford University Department of Political Science. He has authored over 90 articles on numerous topics including American politics, political behavior, and survey methodology. His research has been published in the American Political Science Review, the American Journal of Political Science, the Journal of Politics, Science, Nature, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, among other outlets. He is the co-author of Leading with Values: Strategies for Making Ethical Decisions in Business and Life (Cambridge University Press, 2022).
Sen, Maya: - Maya Sen is Professor of Public Policy at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Her interests include law, political economy, and American institutions. Sen's research has been published in journals such as the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Political Science Review, and has been covered by the New York Times, the Washington Post, National Public Radio, and other outlets. She has testified before Congress and presidential commissions on issues pertaining to the federal courts. She is the author of two books, The Judicial Tug of War: How Lawyers, Politicians, and Ideological Incentives Shape the American Judiciary (Cambridge University Press, 2020) and Deep Roots: How Slavery Still Shapes Southern Politics (2016), which won the 2019 William H. Riker Book Award for best book in political economy.
