It is perhaps a common mis-perception of the laypublic that Supreme Court Justices are, for all intents and purposes, absolute free agents. Understandable. Justices cannot be fired or rejected at the polls in the next election, and there is no higher level of review. Their decisions are final and they, strictly speaking, can decide however they please.
But, in practice Justices are constrained, by centuries of precedent, by self-imposed rules (called Canons of Judicial Review), and by - quite frankly - the enormous gravity of the power they wield. Despite being wrong sometimes, some them frequently, they are to a man and to a woman serious, sober and thoughtful jurists. They do not act arbitrarily or capriciously even when they do err.
First, and foremost, that is why I'm not worried that the Supreme Court might even possibly overturn any part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("PPACA"). But follow me below to find out more.
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