Judicial legitimacy derives from the belief that judges are impartial and that their decisions are grounded in law, not ideology and politics. ... To the extent that courts are perceived as legitimate by their constituents, their decisions—even their unpopular ones—are respected, acquiesced to, and accepted.

Is the judicial branch legitimate?

In many ways, this is true: the Supreme Court can only judge the merits of the cases that come before it. Unlike the legislative branch, the judicial branch can't make law; it can only interpret the constitutionality of existing laws.

What is the legitimacy in the courts?

Judicial legitimacy is fundamental to ensuring public acceptance of courts' decisions when judges have no electoral mandate. ... Our findings suggest that judicial legitimacy in Australia is mainly dependent upon people's commitment to structural democracy and democratic institutions.