I've always found the Supreme Court the paramount of fascination in American politics. They are without a doubt the most important body in our country and looking at their history and their decisions is like watching a sociology experiment. It's all steeped in so much social nuance; every choice they make it based on the culture of the country at the time, the political atmosphere, what's considered moral at the time, what they project the future will be like, et cetera, et cetera. If you want to really learn about American culture, it's the best place to look.

It also says a great deal about us as a country from the point of how often they were so very, very wrong. They try their best to apply or not apply morality as they see appropriate per the situation, but they're absolutely incorrect so often, and they absolutely have to make decisions that occasionally conflict with their own beliefs, trying to achieve something better for the country, only to see it absolutely backfire. It must be incredibly painful to have that happen. I can't help but think of Doubt, where Father Flynn and Sister Beauvier are speaking early on of her accusations, he says, "you haven't the slightest proof of anything!" to which she retorts, "But I have my certainty! And armed with that, I will go to your last parish, and the one before that if necessary. I'll find a parent.", and this of course is the complement to the penultimate scene at the end of, between her and Sister James, where she cries out, "I have doubts! I have such doubts!"

It's never clarified, intentionally, where her doubts are. In herself? In the system? In Father Flynn? In God? Where are the justices doubts lie? Their country, their choices, their morals?