Protecting minority rights can undermine the legitimacy of the Supreme Court in the eyes of many Americans

Since 2010, the Supreme Court has handed down a number of landmark decisions which have dramatically increased gay rights in the US. But these decisions have often led to a backlash. Using national survey data, Michael A. Zilis finds that the Supreme Court's decisions actually undermined its legitimacy in the eyes of those who dislike gays, despite the Court's fundamental mission to protect the rights of vulnerable groups.