Justice Elena Kagan said the "legitimacy" of the Supreme Court hinges on it not appearing partisan.
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Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan said the public is "rightly suspicious" of the Supreme Court if the seating of a new justice can change the meaning of laws — an apparent nod to recent instances in which the bench has overturned longstanding precedence.
"If every day the Supreme Court can overrule itself, then you don't know what the law is," Kalir said.
Overturning precedent can also increase the public's perception of the Supreme Court as a political body rather than a neutral interpreter of the law.
"When the law changes, it doesn't look like the Supreme Court.
But if, over time, the court loses all connection with the public and the public sentiment, that's a dangerous thing for democracy. »