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206 CHAPTER 6 %u2022 The Federal JudiciaryFinally, although justices are appointed for life and do not have to worry about being reelected, they operate within the American political system, in which public opinion plays an important role. Political scientists continue to debate the degree to which Supreme Court justices pay attention to public opinion in crafting specific decisions. Scholars tend to agree that the influence of public opinion cannot be completely discounted.82In the past, public approval of the Supreme Court was normally higher than it was for the president and Congress because Court was seen as less political and was respected for upholding the law. However, events in recent years have caused the Court%u2019s approval rating to drop. In a poll reported by Pew Research in September 2022, following the%u00a0 Court%u2019s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women%u2019s Health Clinic earlier that%u00a0year, 48 percent of the public held a favorable view of the Supreme Court, while 49%u00a0percent held an unfavorable view. In addition, 45 percent said the Court has too much power, up 15 percentage points from January of that year. Nevertheless, about half of the public believed that the Court had the %u201cright amount of power,%u201d and only 5%u00a0percent said the Court has too little power.83Ethics and the Supreme CourtIn addition to questions about the Court%u2019s power, ethics inquiries have also threatened to diminish the Court%u2019s legitimacy. Debate about the need for closer ethical scrutiny of the justices reached a high point in 2023, when details of the behavior of several justices came to light. Justice Clarence Thomas accepted millions of dollars in gifts from wealthy donors, without disclosing the relationships.84 Justice Sonya Sotomayor%u2019s staff was accused of pressuring colleges and universities who hired her for speaking engagements to buy books she authored.85 Justice Sotomayor made an estimated $3.7 million in book royalties since joining the Court.86 Justice Samuel Alito took an unreported luxury fishing vacation in Alaska with a wealthy donor to the Republican Party.87 In November 2023, the Supreme Court adopted a formal ethics code limiting the gifts that federal judges and their families can accept and formalizing rules for when justices should recuse (remove) themselves from cases where their %u201cimpartiality might reasonably questioned.%u201d88Justices have had to keep in mind that their power in exercising judicial review is tied to Americans%u2019 views of the legitimacy of their branch of government. It is no accident that, of all the branches, the federal judiciary, and the Supreme Court in particular, retains its traditions and independence. The prestige of the Court adds to its legitimacy in the view of the American people, and all justices%u2014whatever their own political beliefs%u2014know that they play a key role in preserving the important role of the judiciary as a check on the powers of Congress, the president, the states, and the will ofthe majority.The Supreme Court and Controversial IssuesSupreme Court opinions have the potential to bring some stability to controversial national questions. The Supreme Court ruling in 2015 legalizing same-sex marriage is an example of this power. A member of Congress or a president may hesitate to weigh in on an important and controversial issue out of fear of public backlash, but a Court decision may resolve the issue. Providing political cover for elected representatives who wish to act on an issue may be one of the most important powers of the unelected branch of government. However, not all Court decisions result in stability. For example, %u00a9 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Do not distribute.