Controversial rulings shift debates rather than settle them

Evidence

The reactions to Goodridge and succeeding cases show that controversial judicial rulings rarely settle matters. These rulings contributed to the national debate over same-sex relationships, but they certainly did not end it. Nevertheless, judicial rulings such as Goodridge and its successors can have important effects: They elevate issues on the public agenda, and they often change the terms of debate. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 3363

Categorization

• XREF: Ties directly to the course value theme of courts having effects without dominance; also echoes chapter 116’s shift/legal-doctrine distinction. — connects to: Even landmark rulings leave their core principle disputed and unenforced until further litigation. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 2938; Outrageous trial-balloon positions let the right shift debate ground without debating facts — Mark Fisher (edited by Darren Ambrose), K-Punk: The Collected and Unpublished…, 1691; Court rulings can be interpreted to support both sides of a contested policy debate — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 208 (+1 more)
• recurring: this claim recurs 2 times within its source