Friedman discusses accountability of the Supreme Court

Barry Friedman, the Jacob D. Fuchsberg Professor of Law, led a discussion of the topic "Is the Supreme Court Accountable to the People?" on November 3 at the City University of New York's Habeas Lounge, a space dedicated to conversation and education involving the 2008 election. Friedman maintained that, despite the widespread notion of the independence of Supreme Court justices, the Court is actually affected significantly by public opinion as it navigates such contentious issues as abortion, capital punishment, military tribunals and minority rights. Friedman called the event "a chance to discuss the Supreme Court's role in an intimate environment with a lot of give and take." An expert on constitutional law, the federal courts and judicial behavior, Friedman is the author of the forthcoming book The Will of the People: The Supreme Court and Constitutional Meaning.