New York Times: SCOTUS Sometimes Relies On "Facts" From Amicus Briefs

The New York Times reports that Supreme Court justices are "increasingly citing" unverified and questionable data gleaned from the avalanche of amicus briefs that typically accompany hotly contested issues.

Some of the factual assertions in recent amicus briefs would not pass muster in a high school research paper. But that has not stopped the Supreme Court from relying on them. Recent opinions have cited “facts” from amicus briefs that were backed up by blog posts, emails or nothing at all. Some amicus briefs are careful and valuable, of course, citing peer-reviewed studies and noting contrary evidence. Others cite more questionable materials. Some “studies” presented in amicus briefs were paid for or conducted by the group that submitted the brief and published only on the Internet. Some studies seem to have been created for the purpose of influencing the Supreme Court. Yet the justices are quite receptive to this dodgy data. Over the five terms from 2008 to 2013, the court’s opinions cited factual assertions from amicus briefs 124 times, Professor Larsen found. 

"Created for the purpose of influencing the Supreme Court." Regnerus, anyone? (Tipped by JMG reader Ray)