The Supreme Court: Impartial Judge or Political Machine?

The Supreme Court: Impartial Judge or Political Machine?
The U.S. Supreme Court has the power to shape law, influence culture, and impact daily life—but what exactly is its role, and how do different Americans view it? Some see it as a neutral interpreter of the Constitution, while others believe it has become too political or powerful.
At this meeting, we’ll explore how the Court functions, how its role has evolved over time, and how public trust in it is shifting.
We’ll ask questions such as:

• What do you believe the Supreme Court’s role should be in our democracy?
• How should the Court balance interpreting the law with the influence it has in shaping it?
• In what ways do perceptions of politicization affect how you view the Court and its decisions?
• What standards or ethics should Supreme Court Justices be held to?
• What qualities or qualifications matter most when confirming a Justice—and how long should they serve?

This will be an opportunity to reflect on the role of the judiciary and how it fits into our system of checks and balances—past, present, and future.
Please do your best to arrive at the beginning of the meeting – once we are in breakout rooms and the conversations have started, the meeting doors close to new arrivals. The breakout rooms open (and the doors close) approximately 15 minutes after the hour.