Presidential Rhetoric and U.S. Supreme Court Rulings: The Effect of Going Public on Citizen Evaluations of Institutions and Policy

Abstract

Little is known about how the public responds to presidential statements on Supreme Court decisions. We argue that the president can serve as a source cue for both supporters and nonsupporters, shaping their opinions about the Supreme Court. This study offers a novel experimental test of presidential impact on individual assessments of the Court and potential sanctions. Our results suggest that individuals who approve of the president are likely to adjust their opinions to reflect the executive's stated position on Supreme Court decisions. However, those who do not support the president will react in a directionally opposed manner. Still, under the right conditions, our study suggests that a strategic president can take advantage of his ability to go public about the judicial branch.