THE MACHINE
FACTORS OF INFLUENCE
1. Legal Precedents
- The first decision on a particular type of case helps to determine future cases of that nature
- Every case could be a model for another
- Exceptions exist when docorines become outdated
2. Judicial Philosophies
- The philosophy of the judge on what control he wishes to excert upon the Constitution
- Should rulings contradict the efforts of elected officials since the Justices are not elected?
- See Judicial Restraint and Activism for more
3. Public Opinion
- Justices are influenced by what the people tell them
- At the same time, they don't have to care as much because they do not have to get re-elected
- Justices get public pressure from the media
- Interest groups do not have as much direct influence over the Supreme Court as over Congress or the President
- Interest groups can, however, use influence over the other branches to get the "right people" into the high court