PUBLIC EVALUATIONS OF CONSTITUTIONAL COURTS - ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS

• NCJ Number: 29584
• Author(s): W F MURPHY; J TANENHAUS; D L KASTNER
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 63 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

REPORT ON THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY TO DETERMINE THE PREVAILING PATTERNS OF PERCEPTION AND SUPPORT FOR THE SUPREME COURT BY STUDYING THE WAYS IN WHICH THE GENERAL PUBLIC PERCEIVES AND ESTEEMS THE COURT.

Abstract

INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH 1,285 AMERICANS OF VOTING AGE IN 1966. THIS PAPER PRESENTS A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PATTERNS OF SUPPORT THAT HAVE EMERGED. DATA GATHERED FROM THE INTERVIEWS IS STUDIED USING A VARIANT OF THE 'STRONG INFERENCE' THEORY TO EXPLAIN PATTERNS OF SUPPORT. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ROLES OF CONSTITUTIONAL COURTS SUGGESTED BY THESE EXPLANATIONS ARE ALSO DISCUSSED.