How does the public respond to Supreme Court decisions? This study compares two theories: the thermostatic model (predicting mood shifts opposite rulings) and legitimation theory (predicting alignment with ideological content).
📊 Short-Term Effects
In the immediate aftermath, mass public moods consistently react negatively against judicial liberalism.
🔍 Methodology & Findings
Using cumulative judicial liberalism as a measure, we observe this initial backlash followed by long-term mood adjustment toward the Court's stance. This two-stage dynamic reveals how citizens respond to landmark decisions over time.
⚖️ Theoretical Contribution
Our findings underscore the dual role of the judiciary: simultaneously facing political pushback while ultimately influencing public opinion in the long run.
